Coffee On A Swiftly Tilting Planet

Posted in Coffee With.... by Cammy
Nov 28 2011
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Would we have coffee with Madeleine L’Engle?

Cammy:  In honor of her birthday tomorrow* I would be delighted to buy this woman a cup of coffee.  I cannot fathom that she would be anything less than interesting to talk to.  Her books have touched on such a wide variety of topics from science to religion to moral failings in one’s parents to just getting along with those pesky younger siblings.  And those are just the ones marketed at children/young adults.  Her best known book, A Wrinkle In Time, actually employed legitimate science, for which I will be eternally grateful (there are plenty of great fantasy books suited to the younger set, but far fewer actual sci-fi–even more rare to have sci-fi and a female lead).  She produced books that were connected, and yet very different from one another, which always strikes me as awesome.  I’d love the chance to talk to her about the way the different “universes” of her books run next to one another, occasionally glancing off tangentially.  Why did she choose to do it that way?  Why not keep the Austin’s totally separate from the Murrys, or fully integrate them?  How did she really feel about the right-wingers who were down on the subject matter of her books?  Beyond that, I just want to chat with the woman.  After all, she managed to start something with “It was a dark and stormy night…” and turn it into something fabulous and thought provoking, imagine what she could do to having coffee.

Kristy: This is another one of those moments where I confess to a minor heresy: I’ve never read anything by Madeleine L’Engle.  I think in elementary school one of our readers had a chapter from one of her books or something, but that’s it.  It wasn’t a deliberate choice, I just never got around to it.  I was obsessed with history and dance as a child and there were enough books for kids focused on those topics that I never had time for fantasy.  Something I kind of regret as an adult, though I have yet to find the time or inclination to go back and read the things I missed.  So clearly I have some homework to do prior to coffee, but yes, I would have coffee with her.  I imagine we could still have plenty of things to talk about.  I’m interested in how late in life she began her professional writing career–did she ever imagine writing was something she’d do professionally?  Why does she think it took her that long to find her first novel idea?  I’d also love to hear any insights she had into the publishing industry in general.  Heck, I’d love just a list of suggested books for my nieces and nephews.  I’m sure she’d be a very interesting lady with whom to share a cup of coffee.

Cammy:  ZOMG.  I feel like I’ve failed as a roommate for never having made sure you were indoctrinated.  I am going to retire to a corner and cry tears of shame.

*Side Note:  Apparently November 29 is a great day to be born if you want to write a successful youth novel.  C.S. Lewis and Lousia May Alcott share the day with L’Engle.

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Tagged as: books, children, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Ice Skaters OF DEATH!

Posted in Uncategorized by Kristy
Feb 20 2011
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Fans of The Colbert Report know that Stephen Colbert has a segment called “Who’s Honoring Me Now.”  I’m creating a segment called “Who’s Trying to Kill Me Now.”

No, it’s not Mother Nature this time around.  It’s a far more dangerous foe.

Small children.

People who know me know I’m completely devoid of maternal instinct and don’t even like other people’s children all that much.  Someone has let the word out to the little ones and they’ve gone on the offensive.  You know how they say we’re hard wired to find children cute so we will want to take care of them?  I think it’s so that they can get close enough to kill us.

I went ice skating with a group from my department yesterday.  Keep in mind I’m a southerner and this was my third time on ice skates ever.  Yes, I walk on ropes for a living, but skating is hard!  I finally got to where I could do it a little without holding on to the wall.  I can’t stroke with my left foot and attempting to do so invariably results in me spinning around without meaning to.  The thing is that when you’re a super novice skater you might be able to move forward and you might be able to follow the contours of the rink, but steering and speed control are not necessarily tools at your disposal.

This wouldn’t be that much of a problem… except for the children.  Yes, because someone out there thinks it’s a good idea to let a bunch of little ones with metal blades on their feet loose on the public.  Free spirited little things they see no need to skate in the direction that everyone else is skating in.  They see nothing wrong with stopping for no good reason.  And they have no problem switching direction without warning and cutting you off.

They’re just asking to be run over.  Only you can’t.  Because their cute and they cry loudly and people will look at you judgmentally if you body check a four year old.  I assume.  Not that I have ever attempted such a thing.  I swear.

Keep in mind that this is a low risk enterprise for them.  If they fall they drop about a foot and a half.  If I fall I drop about four.  They’re nice and soft and squishy and if they hit the ice they just bounce right up.  If I hit the ice I lie there for a moment hoping no one saw and trying desperately not to cry until I can get to a bathroom stall or quiet corner.  And being small children THEY KNOW NO FEAR!

I am happy to report they have thus far not succeeded in their evil endeavor.  I escaped the ice rink with no wound not inflicted by my own skates.  But I dare not hope they have given up…

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Tagged as: children, death, ice skating, injuries