ON BOOKS AND MUSIC


Dr. Clairebear did not actually tag me. I just happened to be visiting her blog one night and saw her 123 Book Tag and I thought it would be fun to do so I volunteered. She took me up on it so here goes...

At the moment that I'm writing this, I have 4 books within reach. And because the tag requires a book with at least 123 pages, and all 4 books meet the requirement, I will do it for all for of them, what the heck.

So what should we do? Here's what:

1. Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

The first book is 'Anansi Boys' by Neil Gaiman. I pick this up everytime I feel saturated with didactic reading and feel the need to take a break with a nice little story.

He went down to the end of the corridor. The boom-chagga-boom of a bass and drums penetrated the door. Fat Charlie rattled the door handle.

The second book happens to be nearby because I quoted something from it for a previous post and haven't had the chance to return it to the shelf. It's Alan Alda's 'Never Have Your Dog Stuffed.'

Arlene was terrified that I might actually try to install a toilet by myself, especially because I had that manic look when I talked about how much fun it would be to learn pipe fitting. Gently, and with much talk about how clever I was, she slowly brought me to my senses.

I kept acting and trying to sell my writing, but my real life was happening in this small New Jersey town with crooked sidewalks and pompous mayors.

Notice how different the 3 sentences of Alda are from those of Gaiman? Alda's are much, much longer. I guess he's got more to say cause it's his life he's talking about and Gaiman... well, he was just making up his own... heh.

The third book is something I have to labor over in line with this online course I'm currently taking.

In Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health, the U.S. Supreme Court approved the Missouri Supreme Court's test regarding the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from a patient in a persistent vegetative state. In this case, the family of Nancy Cruzan, a 30-year old victim of an automobile accident, petitioned the court to allow Ms. Cruzan's health care providers to remove the feeding tube providing her with nutrition. The case progressed to the Missouri Supreme Court, and the other court denied the family's plea, holding that the family had failed to present clear and convincing evidence that Ms. Cruzan would have wanted the feeding tube withdrawn.

Hmm... sounds familiar, don't you think? The names, I'm sure, are very different. though.

And for the last book, it's a Spanish tutorial that Papa bought me a year ago. Unfortunately, I haven't gone as far as page 123 yet. For that matter, I haven't gone as far as page 12. I know I should learn it cause it doesn't really pay to be gringo here where I am. It's just that foreign language comes so hard for me.

stand up - levantese (leh-'bahn-teh-seh)
Now combine your command words with some body parts.
Bend your arm. - Doble el brazo. (doh-bleh ehl 'brah-soh)

Amazingly, they don't run out of breath when they speak. That's a whole lot of h's right there.

There, I'm done with the book part. Now I'm going to have to apologize to Dr. Clairebear because I'm going to have to twist the tag at this point. Well, I guess I don't really have to but I want to. Actually, I'm not only going to twist it, I'm coming up with a whole new tag myself. Dr. Clairebear, I hope you don't mind.

Music is one of my passions too. I can't sing as well as Papa Jay does and I haven't really learned to play any instrument. I would have learned the piano if my lessons then weren't so painfully boring. But that doesn't mean I don't have a good ear for it. So yes, I'm going to turn this tag around and switch into music.

Here's what we do.

1. Choose 19 of the songs you like best, regardless of artist or genre.
2. Put them all together in a CD.
3. Make 5 other copies.
4. Post your playlist on your blog.
5. Choose 5 people and send them a copy of your CD each. Send the first copy you made to the one who tagged you.

Isn't this exciting???

Ok, so here's my playlist.

1. Over the Rainbow by Bill Frisell, from the soundtrack of the movie 'Finding Forrester'

2. I Want to Spend the Night, from Bill Withers' Greatest Hits album

3. Give Me the Beat Boys, also by Bill Withers

4. A Matter of Trust, from Billy Joel's Greatest Hits vol. 3

5. In the Middle of the Night, also by Billy Joel

6. Dreaming, from Blondie's Greatest Hits album

7. Everybody Needs Somebody to Love, by the Blues Brothers

8. I Want You, by Bob Dylan from the album May Your Songs Always Be Sung Again: The Songs of Bob Dylan, vol. 2, performed by Gary Burton

9. Where Teardrops Fall, by Bob Dylan from the album, 'Oh Mercy'

10. Make You Feel My Love, by Bob Dylan from the album, 'Time Out of Mind'

11. Spirit on the Water, by Bob Dylan from the album, 'Modern Times'

12. Wait for Me, by Bob Seger from the album, 'Face the Promise'

13. Turn the Page, from Bob Seger's Greatest Hits album

14. Living Inside My Heart, by Bob Seger from the soundtrack of the movie 'About Last Night'

15. Don't Lead Me On, by Bobby Caldwell

16. Good Times, by Bobbi Humphrey

17. Harry Hippie, from Bobbi Womack's Greatest Hits album

18. Edge of a Broken Heart, by Bon Jovi

19. Nobody's Girl, by Bonnie Raitt from the album, 'Nick of Time'

Ok, so who are my 5? Of course, I'm going to start off with my favorite blogger, Papa Jay. I also choose a long-time blogger friend whom I have come to respect a lot, cbs. A blogger turned super-dear true-to-life friend, Ate Sienna. A blogger whose wisdom and cool I have admired since day 1, JMom. And finally, a blogger whom I think is the original rocker mom, ergo I'm dying to find out what she's going to come up with, Kat of Kat Scribbles.

Oh, and Dr. Carebear, if you give me your snail mail address, I'll send you a copy of my playlist too, just because I messed up your tag... hihi. Quits?

I don't know about you guys but I can't wait for my 5 personalized CDs!