Julia London's Blog, page 61

And Kathleen Said, "Let there be Light!"

Today's post is on lighting, and my lack of proper thereof.  I blame Wired for the latest obsession – that and faltering eyesight.  Lately when I'm indoors, I can't see anything unless the lights are blazing full-on.  And that's the big overheads, not the lamps.  We're a mix of CFL and the old style incandescent bulbs.  As an environmentally friendly wannabe, I like CFL's, but darnit, I can't read under those things.

Effective today, (September 1), Europe has banned the manufacture and importing of all 60 watt incandescent light bulbs.   Next January, the government starts mandating efficiencies in lighting.  To be fair, I had thought the government was banning incandescent bulbs.  Apparently I have learned that is not the case.  Incandescents will still be around, but now we'll have "Halogen incandescent" which produce the same quality of light, but are more energy efficient.  GE, Sylvania and Phillips all are making the new models, but I haven't tested them out to compare.

Ah, the bullllllbbbbb....

This month, Wired has an article talking about the next generation of lighting — LED bulbs, and the problems with CFL's and why people aren't happy with them.  Apparently the human eye wants to see fire-like colors.  A regular incandescent bulb is like "a burning filament that casts the glow of a flame."  With a CFL bulb, there is no *flame* only cold light and I thought – I'm not getting old, it's our lighting!!   The warmth of a light is measured in Kelvins.  A standard incandescent light burns at 3500 Kelvins.  A standard CFL bulb burns at 2700 Kelvins.  The higher the number, the warmer and more comfortable the light.

There are other problems with our home lighting environment.  All our lamps do not exactly point at the surface that need illumination. They just give off this *glow* which makes a room nice to look at, but it doesn't light up the work surface.  Aha, I thought after reading the article.  I should get a better lamp.  So, beneath the light of my sucky bulb, I scurried over to Amazon and found this lamp:

 

My New Lamp!

It's a full-spectrum lighting lamp, outputting 1800 lumens, requiring 27 watts to power and burns at a firey, 6500 Kelvins!  Note that a regular 100 watt bulb outputs 1710 lumens and takes, yes, you guessed it, 100 watts to power.  A comparable CFL bulb delivers 1750 lumens and takes 26 watts to power.  If this baby can't make me see better and be happier, then I might as well become a subterranean mole!

And while I was buying a better lamp, I also bought a better chair.  Both are scheduled to be delivered today, so I'll have a full lighting (and butt-comfort) report tomorrow.

I hope you have found today's post *illuminating*.  What's your thoughts on light bulbs?  Do you hate the CFL's?  Are you stock piling incandescents?  Is your lighting working for you?

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My Mother's Books

Like many of us here, I had a mother who was an avid reader and a library hound.  We went once or twice a week.  She also had an extensive set of books at home that filled several bookshelves.  Perusing her library was almost as much fun as going to the library.

Recently, my mom was here and she wanted to know what happened to Harry of Monmouth, but A. M. Maughan.  I told her she couldn't have it.  She reminded me that I had borrowed it from her.  I told her it was mine now, because I loved that book so much.  Seriously, it stands up as one of the best books I have ever read.  It's about King Henry V, and how he managed to set England on a path to greatness in the late fifteenth century.  It is exciting and full of lust and passion and dignity and greatness.  I keep it on a special place on my shelves.  I got it out and let Mother touch it.  I told her I'd let her borrow it, but I had to have it back.  She found that a little ironic and said she would find her own copy.  Good luck with that, Grandma!

Apparently, I was not the only one.  My mom reported that my sister had likewise "stolen"  (she throws that word around very cavalierly, in my opinion) on old book, Below the Salt by Thomas B. Costain, and likewise, refused to give it back because she loved it so much.  I have not read this book–but it is now on my list.  I have, however, read, the Thomas B. Costain Plantagent series.  If you haven't read those, you should.  They are excellent:  The Three Edwards, Magnificent Century, and The Conquering Family. Anyway, Mother is going to buy a new copy of that one, too.

When I was looking around for images to share with you of these hard to find books, I found another one my mother has that I would like to read.  I am wondering how I am going to pull this off, exactly:  The Magnificent Ambersons, by Booth Tarkington.  It was written in 1918, was a Pulitzer Prize winner, but tells the story of an American family over three generations.  How will I ever get it out of her house now that her antenna is up?

Are there any books that you will not part with?  Have you ever borrowed a book and refused to give it back because it becomes part of you?  What is the oldest novel you have read?

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MY LATEST OBSESSION

It's US Open time, which means you'd think my obsession du jour would be my fave tennis player (and defending champion) Rafael Nadal—but you'd be wrong.  No, I am currently obsessed with something other than handsome young Spaniards, and given how hawt Rafael is, that's saying something.  My latest interest?

Quilting.

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lots of supplies are needed for quilting

I blogged a while back about the sewing class I'm taking and I absolutely love it.  Our new project is free motion quilting, which involves basically "winging it" to quilt something.  You follow a basic pattern, but it's more in your head–no lines to guide you or marks to follow.  Just you letting yourself go.  I took to it like a duck to water and am now eager to quilt anything that sits still.  I'm working on placemats and a table runner now.  After that, look out world!

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free motion quilting

Have you ever tried quilting?  Sewing?  Are you artsy-craftsy or is it just not your thing?  Have you found yourself obsessed with anything lately? (my other obsession is the cake pops at Starbucks.  YUM!).  Are you watching the US Open?  If so, who are you rooting for? 

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Milestones and Miles Away

It's Sherri's day to blog, but she was off moving her daughter to college and got held up by Hurricane Irene.  She should be home today, but sent me this blog to post for her.  She said she'd include some pictures.  They better be of Hurricane Irene.  If not that, then a view from the lounge at the top of the Marriott Marquis. :-0

From Sherri:

Elissa's latest self portrait. Doesn't she look like...

someone we know?

I did it! I moved my daughter, my youngest, into her college dorm and I managed to leave her there. It wasn't easy. There were weather hazards and tears. There was the text at 12:45 a.m. on her first night away that said "I wanna come hooooome!" I was still in town, ready to drive over and pick her right back up again. But I resisted temptation and gave her the "stick it out" speech and by morning, she was over it. Home? No way. She is having the time of her life. She loves her dorm, her roommate, her new friends. Next time I heard from her was only because she wanted something, naturally. I'm tasked with buying and sending curtains. Her first day of classes? Already cancelled, due to Hurricane Irene.

The girl believes she has some bad weather/natural disaster karma. Her school trip to France, canceled due to Icelandic volcano eruption. Her graduation? Postponed by tornado. The day we arrived in her college town to move her in to the dorm? Earthquake! And now, her first day of classes put off by hurricane. I told her she does not want to plan a beach wedding, if she ever marries. She will be tempting a tsunami. But for now, she is happily away at school and I am missing her like crazy (but coping).

How about you? Any big milestones lately, or bad luck with the weather? Were you affected by Irene? Will you be picking up Grave Expectations tomorrow when it comes out? (shameless plug). Cosmogirl and Seventeen.com have just recommended it as a great beach read!

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Grave Expectations

Heaven knows, we need never be ashamed of our wolfish cravings. . . .

Bristly, sensitive, and meat-hungry Pip is a robust young whelp, an orphan born under a full moon. Between hunting escaped convicts alongside zombified soldiers, trying not to become one of the hunted himself, and hiding his hairy hands from the supernaturally beautiful and haughty Estella, whose devilish moods keep him chomping at the bit, Pip is sure he will die penniless or a convict like the rest of his commonly uncommon kind.

But then a mysterious benefactor sends him to London for the finest werewolf education money can buy. In the company of other furry young gentlemen, Pip tempers his violent transformations and devours the secrets of his dark world. When he discovers that his beloved Estella is a slayer of supernatural creatures, trained by the corpse-like vampire Miss Havisham, Pip's desire for her grows stronger than his midnight hunger for rare fresh beef. But can he risk his hide for a truth that will make Estella his forever—or will she drive one last silver stake through his heart?

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Busy day, lazy morning, rambling post

Ah, those lazy mornings.....

I spent yesterday doing the Armadillocon writing workshop and talking with friends. A great day, though it started early! But here's the weird thing (to those of you that know me well) — early doesn't bug me anymore! I'm down to one cuppa joe in the am, and I'm waking up before 7 on the weekends and before 6 (often before 5) on the weekdays. And I actually love it! My morning ritual is to sit outside on the back porch and read first thing, and let our old cat Tiger wander outside while I'm out there.

The vet said to only let her wander once the sun comes up…apparently we have owls in the neighborhood!

And yesterday I got some GREAT news while at the con! Tiger does NOT have cancer as they'd thought! She does have something wrong, and we're not sure what, but hopefully antibiotics will cure it. So we're all doing a happy dance here.

Anyhoo, started this morning off with the ritual (thus the feet picture above). Here's a bit of the backyard, which is shaping up despite the heat (note the lack of mowing, but it's too dang hot). Have a LOT of weeding to do (the part that ain't in the picture), and if I weren't off to the con today, I think that would be a weekend project. (Thank you Armadillocon for saving me from the heat!).

Herbs in the silver tub, zucchini down the way. The birds LOVE the birdbath!

Major yummy!

I'm also cooking more. If anyone is interested in what Catherine calls the "Best Quiche Ever" pop over to my Paleo-ish blog — I just posted the recipe!

Okay, I'm off to do some fast house stuff and then head to the con! So, what are y'all's plans for today?

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Not So Nice Guys Finish First

You're a good person (because you're one of our readers, so obviously). You work hard all week at your crappy job (or maybe you love your job, but you're working hard) to make ends meet, maybe save a little for a rainy day, if things are going well. Meanwhile…[image error]

Kim Kardashian's on her honeymoon, having just made 18 million for her lavish wedding. Yep. Most of us go into debt just to have a ceremony we'll remember, or we go easy on the frills so that we don't have to go into debt to get married. Kim K makes money off it. Big money. Who watches this krap? Why does anyone kare? Because once upon a time, Kim banged R & B singer Brandy's brother and broadcast it to the world, plus her father was OJ's friend with the white Bronco and her stepdad is Bruce Jenner, and she was friends with Paris Hilton. [image error]

Here's the wedding $$$ breakdown, according to E!, who pushes Kim and family in our faces to make up for their investment:

Payments the happy couple received

* $15 million plus profit for four-hour, two-part wedding special on E!

* $2.5 million for exclusive photos with People magazine

* $300,000 for exclusive engagement announcement with People

* $100,000 for exclusive rights to bridal shower with Britain's OK! mag

* $50,000 to have bachelorette party at Tao in Las Vegas

Stuff they got for free

* $15,000 to $20,000 Hansen's Bakery wedding cake

* $20,000 Vera Wang wedding dress and fittings

* $40,000 for two more Vera Wang evening dresses

* $400,000 in Perrier Jouet Champagne

* $150,000 in hair and makeup for photo shoots and TV "home video"

* $10,000 in Lehr & Black wedding invitations

Deeply discounted

* $2 million 20.5-carat engagement ring and $1 million wedding bands by jeweler Lorraine Schwartz. The amount they paid for these items hasn't been revealed, but it's much less than their worth.

Krazy! And in the NYT this weekend, I was reading about Detroit's former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Kwame is just out of jail for lying under oath, among other things, and he's facing racketeering and bribery charges, among other things. But he has a new book out, so he scores the NYT interview, where he's posing in what look like expensive clothes. Nice. Krime, it apparently pays. Oh yes it does.

I have a new book coming out. Where's my NYT interview? I guess I'll have to rob a bank, make a sex tape, or get elected to public office then lie, cheat, and sleep with my assistant. (Grave Expectations, on August 30- pick it up!).

Well, maybe things are looking up. Abercrombie and Fitch just tried to pay Jersey Shore star The Situation not to wear their clothes. Awesome! Now, if you're so bad you're actually distasteful, you can get paid to not do things, like wear name brand clothes. I can think of a lot of brands I wouldn't wear for money. Now I'll have to get famous for being especially disgusting to the general public, and ka-ching!

Then Apple can pay me not to write on my MacBook Pro. Asics can fork it over for me to stop walking around in their comfy running shoes. LL Bean, you better start writing checks to keep me out of your classic khakis. Come on Whiners, let's go bad. Really really bad. Who's up for some public inebriation?

 

 

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Life Living on a Runway—well sort of…

[image error]When it rains it pours.  Or in my case when the pipes back up.  Our building was built in 1948 (and supposedly JD Salinger once lived here.)  Buildings that old have a certain charm.  And a lot of quirks.  Most of them the kind you laugh and shake your head over.   But just over a week ago, one of the 63 year old drains got plugged.  And since said drain was in a wall, no one knew about it—until the floors in my apartment started buckling.

The drain was on the 6th floor.  We live much higher up.  So basically what was happening in my apartment was happening in all the floors below me—only worse.  Word from the super is that the fifth and sixth floor equivalents of my apartment were wiped out.  So we were lucky.  Except that we weren't.

Not only did the 62 year old wood floors buckle (thankfully only about an eight foot square of flooring), but the water rose up and flowed into one of our hallway walls and down the corner of our kitchen.  The plaster buckled, the paint bulged and then split and our Sunday was interrupted by a stream of (really nice) maintenance men.  Enter the jet engines (and you were wondering about the title…)   Really, they were dehydration machines (that also could easily play the part of a jet engine for  a Foley artist).  These machines basically suck all the moisture from the air.  As evidenced by the fact that for over a week now my hair has been standing on end (static electricity) and our bathtub has been home to the tubing that drains the sucked moisture away.

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Not my kitchen but it could play mine on TV

And in addition to the dehydrator—two industrial blowers that turned my hallway into an over-zealous runway wind machine for me and a downright aggressive wind tunnel for my dog Max.  Every time he went by he looked like a corgi version of Toto or maybe one of the 'cows' from Twister.   Needless to say he moved really quickly down the hall.  For a week we literally yelled every word in order to be heard (probably by all the neighbors as well).  And had to have our stereo so loud I'm certain that someone in the building thinks that Donald Fagan lives in our building and practices with Steely Dan in the apartment.

And watching the Closer took more than its allotted hour because we kept stopping it and rewinding to try and actually hear the dialog.  You're thinking I'm exaggerating—and I swear I'm not.   Anyway, today they came to start plastering the now super-dry walls…and turned off the machines.  And it's so quiet I can actually hear my heart beating.  And the dog breathing.  And the traffic outside the windows (okay so there was a good side to all the white noise).

[image error]But the cabinet (full of cleaning supplies and medicine) in the hallway is listing to the south—they pulled it away from the wall, and away from the supports that held it to said wall.  And the machines—though still idol are still blocking my hallway and bathroom door.  So it's not over (although I sincerely hope that as you read this—it is.)

Truth be told, it was a very long week, but it could have been so much worse.  And the staff in the building and all the various dryers, plumbers, painters and plasterers that have been trooping through the house have been super nice and amazingly reassuring and helpful.   So I really can't complain…okay I can, but just a little.

And did you know that typing on a keyboard is really loud?

What about you?   What's going on in your neck of the woods?

 

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Deep Disclosure

 

After spending years in prison under deep cover, black ops agent Tucker Flynn joins A-Tac, an elite CIA unit masquerading as faculty at an Ivy League college. Nothing can shake him—except a vulnerable young woman marked for death.

DUAL DECEPTION

When Tucker is assigned to protect—and secretly investigate—Alexis Markham, he expects a routine mission. But this mysterious beauty has a past even darker than his: her father created a horrifying new biochemical weapon—and was murdered to keep it secret.

Alexis has spent the last decade racing to stay one step ahead of the shadowy operatives who will stop at nothing to possess her father's formula. She can trust no one, not even her handsome new bodyguard. But the heat that flares between them is impossible to resist. Will giving in to passion bring her the safety she's always craved, or will her love for Tucker draw him into a killer's sights?

 

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I Stream, You Stream, We All Stream TV!

Recently we had a discussion of the beauty of streaming Netflix, and  my family has become a fan.  What is fascinating is how my viewing habits have changed, and I'm okay with that.  We started out watching 24, which is always fun.  In another few years, I'll be ready to rewatch the entire 24 series, but for now, I'll wait for the movie, which I thought was supposed to happen soon, but alas…

Next up was Law & Order: SVU, but SVU is not like the original Law & Order.  I can rewatch L&O over and over again, know exactly what happens and still get caught up in the drama.  SVU, not so much, because much like M. Night Shyamalan, it's all about the twists, and once you know the plot twists, it's not nearly as much fun.  As an aside, they are releasing the ENTIRE twenty seasons of Law & Order in a box set of DVDs.  Weighing in at a svelte sixteen pounds,  the set will be offered at the low,  low, Dick Wolfe bargain basement price of $699.99!!

The Best Cast of Cheers

But back to Netflix, after getting bored with SVU,  we started watching Cheers.  I was not watching Cheers when it was on, although I have seen some of the episodes in syndication, and I thought it was funny, but now I appreciate the writing more.  The characters are well-drawn, and the plotting is some of the best I've seen on a sitcom.

X-Files Season 1

Over the weekend, we began watching the X-Files.  Wow.  I used to watch the X-Files when it was on, but I haven't watched it in ages, and I was impressed with how well the writing has held up.  I think the original concept was more of a romance between Scully and Mulder, and I'm actually glad that they held back, because sometimes the romance can get in the way of well-plotted story (see when Moonlight Jumped The Shark).

There's a lot to like on streaming Netflix, much more television dramas, than movies, but sometimes it's fun to realize how much television is a part of our culture and our growing up.

What about youse guys?  What is your fav classic TV show, and could you re-watch it over and over again?  What was your favorite cast of Cheers?

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