unrelated rants

I don't normally broadcast my religious views with the zeal and fervor that some do. My spirituality is private, emotional, and something I only discuss with my most intimate friends. I will say, however, that I firmly believe our elected officials should not legislate theology, nor should the government barge into our church sanctuaries, temples, or mosques.

I have a real and definite problem with uber-conservative, right-wing fundamentalists who call themselves Christians. I think they miss the point. It seems their primary agenda is conversion by attack, judgment, and condemnation rather than all-inclusive compassion and love.

So I bet you're wondering what prompted this mini-rant. This did. The small article from today's newspaper is about the church where I work part-time as the music director. After the dedication of the new sanctuary, visitors to the church were so impressed with the music program that I was told I may have a few job offers. I guess I resent the fact that no mention was made of the music program anywhere in the article whatsoever.

I know these are two separate issues, but I just had to get that out.

to play or not to play: f-minor piano variations

Darn you, Joseph Haydn.

Ok, so it's been eight years since I've had your F-minor Piano Variations in my fingers, and even longer since I have performed it in front of actual people. When I slap the Urtext up on the rack, it seems familiar enough. The notes and hints I scribbled all over the music help to jog my memory:
No accent here.
More precise rhythm here.
Close your hand.
Free but not "floaty".
Keep the integrity of the two voices.
Be gentle.
Half pedal.
Shape this phrase more.
Less detached here.
Hang on.
No mercy.
Go.

Slowly it comes back but I have trouble executing the turns, the mordents, the trills, the grace notes - all those Mozart-wanna-be ornaments. Oh, I can hear them in my head, elegantly blending in perfectly with other notes in the phrase. I just can't seem to make my fingers do what I want them to do, and I realize that eight years is plenty long enough to lose one's skill.

After two hours of practicing, it has become apparent that my hand span has shrunk considerably and the tendonitis in my right bicep has indeed not faded away with time.

Will this piece make the final cut for the recital I have to give in five months? Maybe. Maybe not, if I do better on the Brahms Intermezzi. Or the Debussy Suite Bergamasque. Or the old, reliable Chopin Nocturnes and Preludes.

Excuse me while I go hunt down some ibuprofen.

tagged again

Julia tagged me, so I suppose I have to comply....

List 5 things that certain people (who are not deserving of being your friend anyway) may consider to be “totally lame,” but you are, despite the possible stigma, totally proud of. Own it. Tag 5 others.

Ok, here goes:

1. I. Love. Yarn. I must have it. I covet it, crave it, horde it. Even when I'm not working on any particular project, I buy it. I buy it when the various craft stores have sales, thinking, oh I might use this for a project some day. I love the way yarn feels, I love the colors, I love imagining all the things I could make with it. If only my crochet skills were as advanced as I pretend they are.

2. I have a bed-making compulsion. It's true. I have to make the bed before I get into it at night. The pillows must be properly fluffed, the sheets must be straightened out and tidy. There must be the same amount of sheet and blanket hanging off each side of the bed. If, for whatever reason, my bed-making ritual is not performed each night before I climb in, I run the risk of a seriously restless night.

3. I've been known to drink wine out of a box, but only if there's nothing else in the house.

4. Books. See #1.

5. I am secretly in love with Tom Jones (the Welsh singer, not the Henry Fielding novel). I know all of the words to all of his songs.

plug for the local girl

Sui Generis, the law blog written by a colleague in my office, has been nominated for best law blog in the 2007 Weblog Awards. So, all my blogging friends, please go vote for Niki!

the last of the fall harvest

I'll be spending a lot of time making bread out of those 4 and 5 pound zucchinis! Recipes and other hints (except pick-them-before-they-get-that-big) are welcome....

a little monday morning fun

Received this e-card from Julia this morning, which made me giggle out loud at my desk:

snickering at the museum

Last weekend, my sister and her boyfriend were up visiting from Tennessee. One of the many activities in which we participated was attending the current exhibit at the RMSC called Our Body: The Universe Within. It was a fascinating exhibit of actual human bodies and human specimens preserved by plastination, a process that replaces the body's water and fat with reactive plastics.

As we were weaving our way through the various sections of the exhibit, we reached a sort of traffic jam going into the reproductive system portion. G and I were waiting our turn to enter the small partitioned-off room where the fetuses were being displayed. In the mean time, we had the opportunity to admire the cross-section of a male torso, along with several people who were in line behind us. The following conversation ensued:

Lady behind us: Oh!! I always thought the penis and testes were one unit!
Guy behind lady behind us: Heh heh heh, she said "unit".
G and me: uncontrollable stifled snickering

on this date

Today is battlemaiden's 5th birthday. I think that warrants a little jaunt down memory lane, don't you?

Five years ago...

...I still lived in Cleveland.
...I got married but I was not in love.
...I missed my family a lot.
...I occasionally chatted with Ryan on-line.
...Matt and Julia visited me all the time.
...my library was half of what it is today.
...I had three cats instead of two.
...all my blog posts were titled with lines from Tori Amos songs. I am much less obsessed these days.
...I still had the same computer I use now at home, but without all the upgrades Ben has since installed for me.
...my income was a little more than half of what it is now.
...I did the majority of the cooking. Now I have a nearly-gourmet meal prepared for me almost every night!
...I did the majority of the house-cleaning. I still do that.
...I did not know how to knit or crochet.
...I still kept in touch with people who I don't even think about now.
...I hadn't yet met Kirk and Kristi or made regular trips up to the beautiful North Country here in New York State.
...I talked all the time about how much I loved Rochester. (Now, whenever I mention Cleveland, Ryan tells me he thinks I should move back there.)
...I didn't have a regular birding buddy.
...I was a registered Democrat. That hasn't changed.
...I lived in the suburbs, rather than the city.
...I didn't have Harley yet.
...I went to the library a lot more than I do now.
...I watched a lot more TV than I do now.
...I ate fast food several times a month.
...I was still a size 4/6 and weighed 115 lbs.
...I was less happy with my self-image, less confident, less secure in my own convictions.

I'm sure I could go on and on and on, but I won't. Here's to another 5 years.

incarnation?

I have to post about this:

A few weeks ago I was listening to The World Cafe on NPR, when the song One Crowded Hour by Augie March came on. Immediately I thought, "Holy crap, Jeff Buckley has been resurrected from the dead." In any event, it's a good song.

catching up

Boy, this has been a busy week! Here are a few blog-worthy items I feel like sharing:

Tuesday:
I ended up getting to bed rather late on Tuesday night, because I started work on that blanket I mentioned in my previous post.

Wednesday:
I received another comment from the people at Method on my post about my o-mop handle breaking off. Since I never got my replacement, the kind woman at Method said she would Fed-Ex me one ASAP. Nice.

Additionally, after a 9 hour work day, I had to hustle out to Victor for a 2-hour committee meeting on the dedication of our new church building. I didn't get home until after 9 p.m. Ryan had already gone to band practice, but he left me a hot dinner to eat so I wouldn't have to have cereal, or worse yet, cook myself something. He's the greatest.

Thursday:
We celebrated Kirk's birthday at The Olive Tree last night. The sampler starter platter of Taramosalata (really scrumptious red caviar), Tzatziki, Hummus and Skordalia dips was awesome, as were the dolmades. I ordered a braised Tilapia dish; everyone else went with some variation of Moussaka.

There was some talk of bowling after dinner, but a few of us have been feeling a little under the weather. We may do the bowling tonight, instead. All in all, it was a relaxing evening of al fresco dining on the patio with terrific food and our close friends. What more could one ask for?

Today:
According to a co-worker of mine, this morning I apparently sounded like I'm having a bad day today. So, what happened? He brought me a bouquet of daisies, a box of Tazo Sweet Cinnamon Spice tea, and a bar of Lindt milk chocolate. I had no idea he could be so thoughtful.

autumn approaches

The nights have cooled considerably. The heat came on the other day, and in the mornings when I retrieve the paper, the dampness and smell of the air is different. The transition to Autumn for me is more mysterious than its Vernal counterpart.

Not only does this mean Fall bird migration, pumpkins, hiking under the changing leaves, digging out my wool sweaters from the cedar chest, it also means that I've got the crochet itch once again. I don't pick up my crocheting much during the warmer months, but when it's chilly out, there's something serenely comforting about having my crochet work on my lap, a cat curled up next to me, and a mug of steaming tea after dinner in the evenings while Ryan watches hockey.

Here's what I've chosen for my next project, which is going to be a striped blanket for the spare bedroom futon:

bird heaven

Holy mother-lode.

I don't know how I missed this site before, but I've recently discovered it. A quick search for "birds" returned hundreds of pages. *Pant, pant* I won't even tell you what I got when I searched "bird" and "book" (my 2 favorite things).

Check out all the hand-made goodies! I am envisioning gifts galore for friends and family, collecting some creative ideas. After all, Christmas is just around the corner.

i'm a stickler for enunciation

I LOVE this song that's being played in regular rotation on WBER lately. Except for the part that goes "why don'tchewlike me?". It drives me totally nuts in this instance, but it's still a fun song to sing along with in the car.

method = bad PR

Back in June, I left a comment on ljcfyi's post about new Method products that mentioned how the handle on my recently acquired O-Mop had snapped right off after only a few times of use. Not long after, this comment appeared on my blog:

Hey,

Hope you don't mind me following you from LJC's blog. I just read that your omop handle broke! That sucks!
if you email felicia@methodhome.com she can set you up with a new one, stat.

Meredith
meredith@methodhome.com

So, I sent the e-mail along with this photo of my broken O-Mop. The reply e-mail I received was:

No Problem,

What you’ve sent is perfect. I’ll send the coupon today. It will cover the cost of a new omop starter kit at Target.

Thanks, and if there’s anything else I can do please let me know,
Felicia

That was at the beginning of July. Here it is September 8th, and still no coupon for my replacement O-Mop.

if facts are the seeds...

The September/October issue of Audubon Magazine reviews several new books about Rachel Carson, someone in whom I have a special interest.

Rachel Carson has often been called the mother of the modern environmentalist movement. Her most famous book, Silent Spring, cited the dangers of chemicals and pesticide sprayings. Written 45 years ago, that book was a landmark, and my inspiration for switching to all earth-friendly household products like laundry and dish detergent, shampoo, etc. Today, we are still fighting (and losing) that battle.

In 1950, my grandfather and Rachel Carson both won the AAAS-George Westinghouse Science Writing Award for excellence in science writing. My grandfather, who at the time was a journalist for the Democrat & Chronicle, won the award for his article "Cancer Problem Riddle May Be Discovered in Carrots, Coconut Milk"* from the September 24, 1950 issue.

I remember my mother telling me a story about he and my grandmother flew out to wherever the ceremony was held - L.A., or Vegas, or somewhere out West, for a very glitzy, glamorous affair. They also got to meet Rachel Carson.

The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe around us, the less taste we have for destruction. -Rachel Carson, 1954

*End note: A few months ago, I tried e-mailing the Democrat & Chronicle for a copy of my grandfather's article. I never received a response. If anyone out there has an idea of how I can get a hold of an article from 1950, please let me know.

finally getting things done

On my day(s) off, I rarely sit around and do nothing, and this past Labor Day weekend was no exception.

Ryan and I finally got up into the attic to clean up the mess the roofers left behind. (Note: the photo to the left is not of our actual attic, although it is similar.) Once we had surveyed the area and assessed what we needed to do, the whole project took less than an afternoon. This included sweeping, vacuuming, ripping out old carpeting, and making fun of how each other looked wearing a dust mask. Among the various and assorted sundries we unearthed, we found: Legos, puzzle pieces, cigarette butts, broken glass, nails and staples of all kinds, a pair of little kid underwear, someone's Power of Attorney form, and a Medicaid brochure from 1967.

stuff

I have a bunch of pointless blog posts waiting to be published: one about the new bike I got, one about the good music they only play once in a while on WBER (usually on New Wave Wednesdays), one about going up to the cottage last weekend.

None of that matters now.

I've entered a mode of self-re-evaluation. What do I really want out of life and my relationships? I'm not eating right. I'm not exercising enough. I'm not getting enough "me time." I'm losing sight of why I'm doing some of the things that used to bring meaning into my life.

Sometimes I feel like I've gotten myself stuck in such a deep rut that the only way to get out of it is to do some major re-creating.

eating out

There are an abundance of restaurants in Rochester, which makes it a great city for foodies like Ryan and me. Last Wednesday we went to Oasis Mediterranean Bistro with Kirk and Kristi. We had a fabulous time - the food was fantastic (the dolmades were to die for), it wasn't crowded, and the chef (ACF-certified!) even came out to greet us during our meal. Ryan and I are already planning a repeat visit some time soon.

i love my job

This past Thursday was my official one year anniversary at my job. My boss called me into his office at one point during the afternoon, and we had the following conversation:

Boss: Ok, here's your annual review. Do you want a raise?
Me: Yes, please.
Boss: How's six percent?
Me: Cool. That's good.
Boss: Because, you know, we do pay for all your benefits.
Me: I know.

And, not only did I get a raise, but I also got flowers, too.

weekend re-cap

My usual exclamation when I walk into the office on Monday morning is the typical "You again!", directed at one of my co-workers. After the obligatory "So, how was your weekend?", I respond with whether I had a relaxing one or that I have to come to work to recover from the weekend. This past weekend fell under the come-to-work-to-recover category.

Friday: (Although this doesn't technically fall under weekend, it still added as a weekend stressor.) Before leaving work, that afternoon I received a call from my bank's fraud alert department. They were calling to verify some suspicious transactions. It turns out that someone had gotten a hold of my credit card number and spent about $800 of my hard-earned cash. Card was canceled, and we left for Jamestown. Friday night involved great friends, great conversation, 3 bottles of wine, and iTunes.

Saturday: Up early to meet my aunt. We headed down to the Jamestown Audubon Society and nature center to get in some birding. The air was pretty thick and humid so all the birds, I gather, were hunkering down, trying to keep cool. We did get some good looks at some various Sandpipers and my favorites, the Cedar Waxwings. There was also a female Bald Eagle, injured, kept on the nature center's grounds, in a giant wire cage. Poor thing. Then it was back to Jamestown for goodbyes, onward to Fredonia for lunch and a quick stop at TJ's, then back on the road for home. Saturday night, the Varnish Cooks were in fine form at the Perkins Mansion concert series.

river visit

On a muggy day in Rochester, you can smell forever. And, as Ryan put it, forever doesn't smell good. It smells like dead fish and sewage. However, a beautiful sunset and a flock of gulls against the sky can make up for just about anything.

bloggable bits

On July 7th, Ryan and I had the honor of attending the RPO's Rhapsody in Rochester - a celebration of the RPO's new All-Gershwin CD with an evening of music, dinner and dancing at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.

It was a very swank affair with good food and great music. We had a lovely, creative meal, which included a filet that was supposed to have a demi glace, but I thought it was closer to gravy. Oh well.

After dinner we were treated to a concert of Gershwin, and other assorted jazz tunes, one of which was a full orchestral arrangement of Oye Como Va. It was weird but yet strangely intriguing. The event also required us to get very dressed up. My hair-do utilized an army of bobby pins and an entire can of hairspray.

Also, we finally, finally put up the bird feeders. It took mere days for us to develop a following - we now have 3 pairs of goldfinches, a pair of cardinals, and what Ryan likes to call our roving gang of chickadees. We've seen nuthatches, red-belly, hairy, and downy woodpeckers, but they've yet to visit the the feeders. And, though Ryan has only seen it once, we have heard a very loud Carolina wren in the neighborhood. Living in the city, the birds are tame enough that we're able to sit out at the picnic table in the back yard and watch them feed up close.

"eh"

As you can see from my sidebar over there, ------> I keep an on-line library of all my books through a wonderful site called LibraryThing. (It's awesome - you should join if you haven't already.) Several weeks ago, I was selected to participate in their Early Reviewer program, which is a collaboration between the site and a publishing company (Random House, in this case.) Because my library somehow matched whatever criteria they were looking for, I was lucky enough to receive a free, advanced copy of a soon-to-be-published novel. In order to continue to participate, though, they recommend you write a review, etc. So, my review of Peony in Love is below:

I received my copy of this book in the mail as part of the Early Reviewer program. As a fan of historical fiction (especially stories about women), I was anxious to start the novel. Focusing on an arranged marriage that never quite reaches fruition, Peony in Love desperately wants to be a love story. It wants to be a story about love that is stronger than death; it craves to be about a kind of rare love that will transcend any time, place, or dimension.

After only one chapter through it, however, I thought, “This is awful!” The writing bored me. The further I read, the more I wanted to be shown rather than told about the emotions that play such a large role in the novel. I wanted more depth in the writing, more imagery. The only scene that really captured my full attention in the beginning was the very graphic description of the foot binding process. This was a fantastic depiction which caused me to physically cringe and shudder.

I did, at times, have to force myself to continue turning pages. Later on in the novel, as we learn more about Peony (our heroine) and her family’s history, I did soften toward the often very bland writing style. I eventually developed a fondness for the characters. I even wondered if perhaps Lisa See wrote this way intentionally. Did she purposely write in such a plain style to underscore or accentuate the heavy emotions that we are told are so prevalent throughout this story? Maybe.

This wasn’t one of the best novels I’ve read in recent memory, nor was it the worst. It was simply, to me, “ok.” It did, however, spark enough interest in me that I think I may check out See’s other novel, which was apparently a best-seller, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

recovery

Last weekend we tried to cram way too much into three days. Friday night, Ryan and I met up with Ben at the Syracuse Jazz Festival for a much-anticipated but later disappointing Bela Fleck and the Flecktones show. (The sound guys blew and it was freezing cold.) Sunday, it was back to Syracuse for the Jaco Pastorius Big Band, conducted by Peter Graves, with special guest Will Lee. Aretha Franklin was scheduled to play after the Jaco band, but we didn't stay for her. When in large crowds, my patience wears incredibly thin.

We stopped at Montezuma on the way out on Sunday. Nothing much to see there, since there was a simulated drought and the main pool was totally dry. We did, however, get a good look at a nesting Osprey on the way out.

Up next: Rhapsody in Rochester this coming Saturday. Pictures of Ryan and me in our formal wear will be posted eventually.

July is already shaping up to be one of the busiest months of the year...

sunday distraction

birds/worship
outdoor chapel
woodpecker holes
hammered
into the old wooden cross erected behind the stone altar
catbird
meadow lark
oriole
goldfinch
Luther's small catechism
allcreaturesofourgodandking

when, oh when?

Sometimes I feel like time is getting away from me. Right now, there's a ton of laundry that needs to be done, the lawn needs a mow, the weeds along the side of the house need pulled, I need to be fed. We have two parties and a Varnish Cooks gig to attend later. It's been one thing after another. When can I rest?

and it's only the 22nd....

In the last two weeks I...

...turned 30
...saw Jean Luc Ponty
...saw John Scofield
...saw a very old Dave Brubeck
...got divorced

...watched the house three doors down catch fire and burn (RNews story here)

...and there's still one more week in the month. Sheesh.

another year, another decade

Tomorrow, I turn 30.

Last week, Julia mentioned to me how last year, she posted about her last day as a twentysomething. (By the way, Julia, there actually is no post from October 21, 2006. Unless you have some other mega-secret blog I'm not privy to.) I've been thinking about that ever since. Today is my last day as a twentysomething, and this morning, in the shower, I found myself reflecting on the last ten years of my life.

When I first began crafting this post, I thought, maybe I'll do a summation of every year of my life for the last ten years. Then I thought, egad, I don't want to re-live most of that, I'm glad it's over! There were more tough times than good, more struggle than ease, more hard lessons learned than not. I've come through it all relatively unscathed, and definitely much stronger for it. I have happiness, I have love, I have peace.

Tomorrow, I will be surrounded by my family, my closest friends, and Ryan. I couldn't ask for anything more.

getting nothing done

Right now, the Varnish Cooks are practicing in my living room. Sweet.

it's hotter than....

We've had quite a warm week here, and since our house does not have air conditioning, Scooter has found an alternative method of cooling himself down. I think he may have been a dog in a former life.

re-charged

Happily, Ryan and I made it up to the cottage for the Memorial Day long weekend. There's a tangible shift in the energy in the car as soon as we get on 81 North and the pines become more prevalent. Though we were only away for about 2 1/2 days, it was still long enough to relax and recharge, have some great food at the local pub, and spend time with friends.

The tough part is making that feeling last after we've arrived home. Going back to work felt weird. My body was there, at my desk, performing all the tasks I'm used to, meanwhile my mind was still on the beach, in the cabin, in the woods, birding. Sort of like floating in an alternate reality.

ouch

Every muscle in my body aches today. I mean it. Even my shins hurt. Why, you ask? Adopt-A-Highway. Yesterday afternoon, my entire office save one was out on I-590 picking up trash. For four miles. All for the perks of free advertising - the firm gets its name on two small signs in both the North and Southbound directions.

Don't get me wrong - I love the liberal overtones this activity has. As an environmentally-conscious, compulsive recycler, I loved that we were doing our part to keep our community somewhat clean. However, people in this city are PIGS. There were areas along the road where we were ankle-deep in cigarette butts. Ew.

Last night, when it was all over, and I had recovered after a hot shower and a cat-nap, I was re-telling my account of the highway clean-up at dinner with Ryan, Kirk, and Kristi. The weirdest things we found: 2 bras and half a bicycle. Not surprising finds were the dozens of empty beer cans and bottles. Oh, the irony.

3 margaritas and i open my checkbook

One of my co-workers threw a Silpada jewelry party yesterday evening. I went only because the part of me that felt obligated to attend won out over the more apathetic part that wanted to stay home with the dog, watch the Friday re-run of Thursday's Grey's Anatomy, and relax after a long week.

I was pretty bored at first. Admittedly, the jewelry was attractive and boy, I do love shiny silver things. I finally loosened up after a margarita. It was nice to chat with my two other co-workers who felt the same obligation. One of them left after only a half an hour, but Heather and I stayed almost until the bitter end. I stayed because of the margaritas. She stayed because I think she was actually having fun. After three margaritas, I ended up purchasing a set of sterling dangle earrings and a stacked bamboo necklace. I had my eye on a few other items - a funky, chunky turquoise necklace that would look nice with the dress I intend to wear to Anne and Sean's wedding in July. I couldn't justify spending $110 on it, after spending $500 at the vet this week, and another few hundred on a gift for my mother for Mother's Day.

At least now I have a connection with Silpada. The woman for whom my co-worker was hosting the party had quit her day job THAT DAY because she is doing so well selling this stuff. She was a paralegal at a law firm. Hmmm. Interesting coincidence.

spoke too soon

i give it all away, but you don't...
Howie Day, I'll Take You On

is this really me?

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

happiness = writer's block?

The house. The job. The one. No drama. No conflict. *sigh* I am happy.

all right, fine

I don't blog anymore. Obviously. Haven't got the time, really. But for Julia, who tagged me, I guess I'll have to.....

Pick seven songs that you've been listening to and tag seven friends to share.

Well, gee. I don't have an ipod (seriously, I don't) and all I listen to in the car is NPR. But the last time I listened to music at home, my picks were:

1. "Music for Two" by Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer - You can't just listen to one song on this album; all the songs beg to be heard continuously. It's better this way. I promise.

2. "Lux Aeterna" by Morten Lauridsen - The most beautiful piece of contemporary choral music I have ever heard. If I've had a glass of wine, I cry.

3. "Birding by Ear" by Roger Tory Peterson, et. al. - Now that spring migration is beginning, I need to refresh myself.

4. "Forget About It" by Alison Krauss & Union Station - I love, love, love her.

5. "The Road to Escondido" by J.J. Cale & Eric Clapton - Another album where I can't just listen to one song, but rather, I must listen to the entire album.

6. "Around This Corner" by Sarah Harmer - Very funky. Love that solo jazz clarinet.

7. "Sweet the Sting" by Tori Amos - For now, until the new album comes out very, very soon. I'm so excited!

so many old memories meshing with new ones

i do not know what it is about you that closes and opens; only something in me understands the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses.
-e.e. cummings

icing on the cake

Today, driving home from work, the windshield wiper on the driver's side flew off the car and landed somewhere in the middle of Monroe Ave. It was getting dark. And raining.

My 2007 Book List

1. The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard (1/1/07)
2. The Clock Winder by Anne Tyler (1/17/07)
3. Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters (1/31/07)
4. Morgan's Passing by Anne Tyler (2/13/07)
5. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich (3/13/07)
6. Murder in the Adirondacks: An American Tragedy Revisited by Craig Brandon (3/22/07)
7. Adirondack Tragedy: The Gillette Murder Case of 1906 by Joseph W. Brownell & Patricia W. Enos (3/25/07)
8. An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser (5/27/07)
9. The Master Butchers Singing Club by Louise Erdrich (6/20/07)
10. Peony in Love by Lisa See (7/4/07)
11. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (7/17/07)
12. Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson (7/20/07)
13. The Guardians by Ana Castillo (8/07)
14. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky (8/29/07)
15. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (9/8/07)
16. Monkey Hunting by Cristina Garcia
17. Saving Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan (10/10/07)
18. The Bingo Palace by Louise Erdrich (10/26/07)
19. The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich (11/16/07)
20. The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud (12/11/07)

If you want something done right...

...a woman had better do it. This is true of oh, so many things.