Random Sunday
Jul132008
Burn Notice premiered its second season and my TV is not working (I’m waiting for a satellite hook up.) So I watched it on the net. I figured I was going to watch it another three or four times anyway, so it wasn’t awful that I was watching it first on the computer. It’s not the best episode they’ve ever done, but they had a lot of ground to cover with Michael coming back two days after the season one finale and his loved ones—mom, Fiona, Sam—a little annoyed to see him so fast and in trouble again. It’s still the best TV show since Buffy. The premiere and all of Season One is on Hulu: http://www.hulu.com/videos/search?query=Burn+Notice. You should go.
The triumph of hope over experience: I really want to see The Mummy 3 (http://www.robcohenthemummy.com/video.php) The second one was terrible but so was the second Indiana Jones. And this one has Jet Li. And Michele Yeoh. And a dragon. And I loved the first Mummy. I’m a sucker for this stuff. But Rachel Weiss is not back as Evelyn, and that always throws me off. “Who is that strange woman and what have you done with Evie?” Since they got everybody else back, I’m assuming she didn’t want to play this time. Rachel, how could you?
I had to have a tree cut down (see satellite problem above) and I felt awful about it. Big green leafy thing right behind my house. But I’ve been without TV for three weeks now, and nature lost. So they came and cut it down and my contractor came in and said, “You owe Direct TV.” Turns out the damn thing was hollow and would have fallen on the house in the next year. Suddenly, I have no guilt at all. And my view is vastly improved. A win for everybody. Except the tree, and it was dead anyway.
We filled two swimming pools in the back yard and they got plenty of use, but now the kids are gone and they’re just sitting there, forlorn, a dragon full of water and a big round thing full of more water and sea creature beach balls. Very sad. Even sadder: I have to figure out how to direct that water down the hill and into the river instead of into my already sodden grass. You never think of these things when you’re putting the water in. Especially if two little girls are standing there in their bathing suits asking, “Is it done yet?” while you’re turning blue from blowing up the beach balls.
I’ve completely lost my sense of smell. Weirdest thing ever. I’ve tried sniffing bottles of cider vinegar and all I get is a burning sensation, no smell at all. The horrible cat food my cat loves, same thing. I can’t smell things burning or if the cat pees in the shower or a storm coming in. I wouldn’t have put losing my sense of smell up at the top of “Things I Wouldn’t Want To Lose,” but it turns out, it’s pretty essential for every day living. And eating. I tried to eat French Toast the other day—I love French Toast—and had to spit it out because once you can’t taste the eggs and the cinnamon and the syryp, it just feels like mushy bread. Very upsetting. Waffles still feel right, though. Now if I could just smell and taste them . . .
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (“Good never looked so bad”) is out now and getting raves. Guillermo del Toro could film his dog playing in the backyard and I’d go, and I loved the first Hellboy (I own three DVD copies of it, no I don’t know how that happened). But the last time I saw a film in a theater was About A Boy (I have a sad cloistered life), and I don’t’ really have the time to go. Still I may brave the theaters for this one. I’ve still got HVAC guys and stone guys and the electrician, the plumber, and the contractor in my house and at least I’d have some privacy in the theater. Either they get done and out soon, or we start having family dinners.
I knew about the Berlin Airlift the way you know about any event in history, sort of an “Oh, yeah, I know what that is,” but the AP did two wonderful pieces on it, smart diplomacy that happened because one guy had a heart: “Berlin Airlift a Cold War turning point” and “Berlin Airlift: Germans look back _ and forward”. That’s the kind of thing that if you put it in a book, cynics would sneer, “Oh, like that would work.” Well, it worked. International relations done right because people thought about people instead of tactics.
Tim Burton is going to direct Alice in Wonderland for a 2010 release. That’s two years to wait. I’m hoping he does it in stop action like The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride, but I loved his Sleepy Hollow, too, so I’ll take it any way I can get it. It must be tough being Tim Burton doing Alice in Wonderland, though, because of course the assumption is that he’ll do the best Alice ever. At least that’s my assumption.
George Carlin said, “The very existence of flame-throwers, proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, ‘You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, I’m just not close enough to get the job done.’” I think it was more, “I want to set those people over there on fire, and I don’t want to get close enough that they can retaliate.” Or maybe that’s just the flamethrowers on the internet. And speaking of them, why is it always the flamers who say to the people who protest their abuse, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”? It’s like they’re saying, “I have a right to scorch you but you don’t have the right to complain about it.” And if you leave, then they jeer because you can’t take it. “Coward.” I don’t like them but I don’t have to live with them, so they’re not a big deal. But just bleah on flamers, that’s what I say.
I love great music videos, and this one from Texas is my fave (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7A_bJFZNXE ): Alan Rickman doing the tango with Sharleen Spiteri at a BP. I sent it to Krissie months ago when she was depressed, and then for some reason just sent it to her again and got an e-mail back that said, “WHY HAVEN’T I SEEN THIS BEFORE?” Sigh. But it is amazing how romantic and hot the video is even though I have no idea what the story line means. One of the commentors, probably a guy, looked at it and said, “But he’s old.” Honey, some things are ageless and Alan Rickman is one of them.
Another writer just told me that if I don’t get my solo book done pretty soon, the publishing world is going to forget who I am. I thought, “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” First of all, publishing isn’t a person with a memory, it’s a game. Second, publishing seems to remember people like Margaret Mitchell and Agatha Christie and they haven’t written anything for years, the slackers. Third, who cares? It’s about the writing, not about playing some dumb fame game. You know, you start thinking about publishing, and you just get depressed and angry and blocked. I pretend it isn’t there until I have to deal with taglines and book covers, and then I’m only dealing with St. Jenderlin, so that’s fun, too. Caring about publishing is a one way ticket to insanity. And since I’m already there, I don’t need the ticket, thanks.
Speaking of which, the cover and tagline for D&G are up at the D&G website. I think we’re going to do a raffle for the winner of the tagline contest, but Lani is handling that. Because she remembers things.
It’s been a beautiful day here. Hope yours was wonderful, too.
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71 Comments to 'Random Sunday'
On July 13, 2008 at 8:25 pm Melissa Blue said...
I’ve fried my brain today over publishing. My galleys came and I had to do those. I found something out that makes me heart hurt for writers who don’t know how to stand up for their own stories. YOUR WRITING IS WORTH SOMETHING, so just don’t send it to anyone. Lastly, I’m revising a book so I can send it to get edited, so I can then send it to an agent.
Needless to say my Sunday sucked and so does publishing *sometimes*
On July 13, 2008 at 8:40 pm Melissa said...
I have to say I’m kind of thrown about the lack of Rachel in the new Mummy movie. However, I have a deep adoration for Brendan Fraser, so I’m going anyway. I can overlook some bad casting for my Brendan. But seriously, his chemistry with Rachel made the second movie work. (I loved the second actually, heh)
And no one’s gonna forget if you don’t have a new solo book out. Your other novels are still on the shelf and there are fans (like me) who check your website constantly looking for release dates. So you’re more than safe. The good writers stay with you, no matter how long between books.
On July 13, 2008 at 8:47 pm hollygee said...
Lani doesn’t remember some things, for instance, that she has a blog.
On July 13, 2008 at 8:51 pm Rebecca said...
Oh. My. Goodness. Thank you for linking to that video! Alan Rickman is just yummy. If he had murmured in her ear, I probably would have fallen off my chair, imagining what that would be like.
On July 13, 2008 at 9:09 pm Jenny said...
Well, Lani’s been playing with me in Ohio, so all three of us (Krissie, too) sort of took the week off. And I know she’s working on two different new books, both of them fabulous, so she’s probably concentrating on that. Plus she supports me in my times of crisis which come about two a week, so that’s a time sink.
Yes, Melissa, I, too, watched the second Mummy to see Fraser and Weiss together again. We’ll just have to adapt.
On July 13, 2008 at 9:13 pm Lynda Ward said...
I read recently that Rachel Weiss had just had a baby when the new MUMMY movie started filming, and she didn’t want to take her newborn on location in China, which is why she skipped this one. Understandable, but I’ll still miss her.
On July 13, 2008 at 9:14 pm Robbie said...
I second the thanks for Alan Rickman and the TANGO. Yummm.
Secondly, I won’t spoil any huge plot points, but I’ve seen the third Mummy movie (in a screening that was so secret they made us wear wristbands and wouldn’t tell us what the movie was until moments before the film rolled) and … if I can save you from it, let me.
Most of the effects were really good, and others were sort of weirdly cheesy. Plot, eh, okay. Dialogue, hokey. Acting, mostly phoned in by the main stars. I was excited to see it, honest! I thought, “Oh, fun, it’ll be in China and that terra cotta army is a real thing and yay!” but it was just kind of a mess.
On July 13, 2008 at 9:40 pm WapakGram said...
If you don’t get your book done people will forget about you? Who is this person who doubts the loyalty of the Jenny Cruise Cherries and Cherry Bombs? Not just the loyalty, but the salesmanship and word of many mouths.
I went into a bookstore today and asked for your books. I always ask so I can tell the people around that you are fabulous. Then as trained, I rearranged a just a few things. McB made us do it when she zapped up with her magic wand.
I hope you are taking lots of pictures of the house transformation even if you can’t post them now. It is about time for an attack on Word Press people.
And so glad that the tree came down safely and not when it damn well pleased.
On July 13, 2008 at 10:08 pm Office Wench Cherry said...
“I think we’re going to do a raffle for the winner of the tagline contest, but Lani is handling that. Because she remembers things.”
So, does that mean you haven’t sent out the other prizes yet? Not that you don’t have at least a million and one other things on your plate.
On July 13, 2008 at 10:13 pm talpianna said...
I thought most of the second Indiana Jones movie was awful–especially the “feast” scene–but the last 45 minutes or so are the best chase scene in the history of filmmaking, IMNSHO.
Did anyone watch the short-lived series NEW AMSTERDAM, about a cop who is basically immortal until he finds his One True Love. The show was pretty good, and the Danish actor playing the hero was hotter than hot!
On July 13, 2008 at 10:24 pm Sheri said...
Why did you lose your sense of smell? Cold? Allergies? The incessant onslaught of odors from the various chemicals being sloshed around your house as old stuff is ripped our and new stuff is put in? Did you whack your head on a new cabinet you forgot was there?
I went to college with a girl who had whacked her head when she fell off the hood of a moving car and lost her sense of smell because of it. She lost a considerable amount of weight because eating wasn’t any fun any more and I remember thinking how awful that would be–to not taste!!
And no one is going to forget you. I just told two more friends about you and they were really interested. And of course whenever I go to the book store I make sure I also do a little re-arranging of the shelves…. *grin* But yeah, a new Crusie would look really good on my book shelf…
On July 13, 2008 at 10:47 pm Courtney De said...
Yeh, I don’t think I can see a Mummy movie if it doesn’t have Brendan Fraser AND Rachel Weiss. The best part of the movies was their chemistry. (And, I too, shamelessly loved the second one. Not as much as the first, but, still.)
And, Jenny, nobody is going to forget you, least of all us. Heck, there are authors who I love who haven’t published a new book in many, many, many years, but I still hopefully look for them whenever I hit the bookstore. Sometimes I’m even rewarded.
Talpianna-I watched a few episodes of New Amsterdam, and, ohmygodyes, the Danish actor is hot, but they kinda lost me in the pilot when he ended up in the ER with no identification. I mean, c’mon, he was a cop, with a gun and badge, and, presumably, ID when he was shot, then, suddenly, it’s all gone? It still bugs me. I probably need to move on.
On July 13, 2008 at 11:23 pm Jenny said...
Right, how could I have forgotten the expert book-rearranging Cherry Bombs? You alone will keep my name from dying out. But it probably would help if I published something.
Oh, just hell on The Mummy 3. Well, I probably wasn’t going to get to the theater to see it anyway. I’ll just get the DVD and fast forward through the cheesy parts. Still no Weiss . . . that’s bad.
No idea how I lost my sense of smell. I did whack my head on something a month or so ago but it wasn’t bad, no blood or hospitalization. I have asthma and allergies so that’s not helping. I’m hoping it just comes back, the way my knees do if I quit carrying heavy things on stairs.
Now I must go look at the second Indy movie since it is evidently not as bad as I remember. Mostly I remember being incredibly annoyed by Kate Capshaw’s character who pretty screamed and bitched her way through the picture. Give me Karen Allen. I love a woman who slaps her ex-lover as soon as she sees him. Kind of breaks the ice and gets the important stuff out of the way.
On July 13, 2008 at 11:27 pm Slave Driver said...
Brendan Fraser is yummy like a beautiful painting. It’s okay if I go and look at a beautiful painting, I just cannot take it off the wall and lick it. Even if I really want to.
I miss George Carlin. I saw him live when I was 13, but that’s another story. He was a master; You have to love a man who can make you laugh until you have got to pee.
I loved Alan Rickman in Truly, Madly, Deeply. He made you want him as your own personal ghost.
I’m sorry, but did I miss a memo? Are we supposed to be doing something subversive when we go to a bookstore? I wrote for a band e-zine for a while and when I went to Best Buy I used to take all the CD’s out of the “F”‘s and put them in the dryers except for that band’s CD. Was there a program I missed? Because you know I’m all about passive resistance…or something like that. If you remove all the other books on the shelf marked “C” except Crusie is that passive resistance or guerilla marketing? Either way, it would give me something to do on a Tuesday afternoon.
On July 13, 2008 at 11:31 pm CC said...
Hulu.com rules- I’ve been using it since it was beta and I had to stand in line and beg to be let into the playground- the internet is my only tv resource, so sites like hulu and joost are good things in my world
Don’t know if I’m loving the mystery woman who has Michael on the ropes, but I understand it for the story.
New Amsterdam was fun- long lived but not a vampire, a nice change- I also like K-Ville. Is that coming back?
Why won’t my insurance pay the couple hundred for tree removal now, while it’s still standing but they’ll pay two and three times that much when a strong wind takes it, the fence, and the power lines down
On July 13, 2008 at 11:35 pm Melissa Blue said...
The first The Mummy was the best. I remember watching the movie and thinking, “Oh, this is what sexual tension is supposed to be like.”
Today was a crapshoot,*sorry for the depressing first post* but tomorrow things will be better. Saving Grace and The Closer is coming back on. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Just for kicks:
Jenny who?
Anyway, who are these people that says these things to you.(I’m remembering someone telling you paranormal was dead? And you were wasting your time writing it.) Really you can send them to me. I don’t get to say Bite Me as often as I like.
On July 14, 2008 at 12:10 am Kim said...
Did you see the article in Slate about the woman who lost her sense of smell? She’s far more dramatic about it than you are but her problem has been going on for longer. Anyway, she lives in CA and found that a trip to NY magically restored her sense of smell for a week–until she went back home. I know you’re in the middle of this renovation and all, but perhaps this is the excuse you’ve boon looking for to move to the city….
On July 14, 2008 at 1:33 am CrankyOtter said...
And here I was going to recommend you get “About a Boy” for your Rachel Weiss fix, but you already have.
Have you had antibiotics recently? They can mess up your sense of smell. Odd that. Hope it comes back. Or, if it doesn’t and you don’t feel like publishing, you could always get a job removing unwanted skunks.
On July 14, 2008 at 6:28 am Kieran said...
My friend who lost her sense of smell got it back by drinking lots of soy milk. I have no idea how that worked, something about estrogen depletion that was now restored, she said, but it worked like a champ. So good luck.
But I would also say that if you bumped your head, please go get it checked out by a doctor, esp. as a month later, this thing has happened with your sense of smell. You want to make sure there’s no pressure on that part of your brain. Blunt force injuries can do weird things.
I am NOT a doctor. So you can totally ignore my advice. But I did have a health column, and I remember writing about head injuries. They are not to be messed with.
On July 14, 2008 at 6:54 am Moonlissa said...
I have never seen Hellboy, and I was informed by my mother that this is “a great gaping hole in my cinematic education!”
On July 14, 2008 at 7:04 am LtL said...
Lots of times I read this blog, and spark to something, and type out a comment, then look at it and see that it’s TMI, and delete it and go back into Lurk Mode.
This time, let me say, commisserations on the loss of your sense of smell, and if you get it back, please post about how you got it back.
Medium-sized bay tree falling on house: inconvenient. Giant jacaranda tree falling on neighbor’s house. Oy.
Good luck with the TV, though I don’t understand why.
On July 14, 2008 at 7:54 am Lisa said...
Your loss of smell could have something to do with the renovations. Your brain may be blocking smell to deal with the mixture of fumes coming from glues, flooring, carpets, wood, etc. I just put new carpet in my den and they recommend you don’t stay in the house because of the fumes from the carpet having been in plastic or have the carpet aired before installation (installer laughed when I asked about this). Luckily my new heat pump has a clean air processor since I had to stay in my house. I didn’t have to deal with the fumes but it took my cat a week to get used to the smell of the new carpet. So hopefully your sense of smell will come back when the renovations are over.
FYI: Just last night I read on the Straight Dope web site, “The technical term for the inability to smell is anosmia, and a person who is unable to detect smells is anosmic.”
On July 14, 2008 at 8:25 am Mary Stella said...
My favorite part of The Mummy movies — Oded Fehr. Yowsa!
Jenny, I want to see you publish more solo books because they’re fantastic. Please don’t ever give up on doing Slow Men. I don’t know which writer said that to you, but, hello, doesn’t he/she know you haven’t exactly been nonproductive? DLD, Agnes, UMF — not to mention your entire, glorious backlist.
Some of us are forgettable. You? Never.
On July 14, 2008 at 8:29 am Office Wench Cherry said...
I was reading comments this morning and got to mine and realized I sounded harsh and cranky and nasty and that wasn’t what I was going for so I apologize. That’s what I get for posting on a serious lack of sleep – no judgement.
I’ve lost my sense of smell with really bad colds and for a few days after dental surgery, it’s rough. We never think of all the things we rely on smell for but there are a lot of them. I got a sinus/ear infection one time and lost my ability to hear certain ranges, that was awkward because I was working in a library and had to answer the phone and talk to people. I couldn’t hear one co-worker at all.
On July 14, 2008 at 8:30 am JulieB said...
Joinng in on the worry over the sense of smell loss. Don’t let that go too long.
I have never seen Hellboy either, and with the way everyone seems to know about it, I feel pretty out-of-the-loop. How is it that I’m so clueless?
And, thanks for the links to the airlift stories and the video. Read the stories, bookmarked the video. *sigh*
On July 14, 2008 at 8:31 am Sara said...
Loved the first Hellboy and went to see H2 last Friday. Was good too, but not rush to the theater good. You can just wait for the DVD to come out if you don’t have time. Looking forward to Mummy 3 & Batman 2. BTW skip Hancock, not even worth a DVD buy IMO.
On July 14, 2008 at 8:59 am Becky said...
Well, I don’t know about Publishing, but I won’t be forgetting you any time soon. It’s hard to forget someone when you have a shelf full of their books and one on the mp3 player for emergencies.
And I don’t care if the new Mummy is bad. I love me some Mummy. Although I’m disappointed that Rachel Weiss isn’t in it. If the “just had a baby” story is correct, I can total respect that. I wouldn’t want to travel abroad with a newborn, either. But I’ll still miss her.
On July 14, 2008 at 9:00 am Jenny said...
Nobody’s comment here was depressing. Somebody wrote to tell me this post was a downer, and I thought, “Huh.” I’m not depressed. I think it’s funny that I can’t figure out how to get the water out of the pool (it’s okay, the guy who does my lawn said he could do it, no problem). The sense of smell thing is just odd and yes I’m going to the doctor tomorrow. I thought the rest of the post was just random ramble, not complaint, but if I depressed anybody, I apologize. I’m really happy. It’s another beautiful day here, supposed to be beautiful all week. I’m working on three different books I love. The dogs have bonded with the stone guys, especially Wolfie. When he goes out in the morning, they all stop and yell, “Wolfie!” like he’s Norm at Cheers. Life is good.
On July 14, 2008 at 9:25 am Libby said...
I thought it was a great post. Not depressing at all. I even postponed checking e-mail to read all the comments, not something I do lightly on a Monday morning.
On July 14, 2008 at 9:34 am AndreaS said...
Mary Stella, thank you! Oded Fehr is my second favorite reason for watching the Mummy movies. Of course Brendan/Rachel is the first reason. But with chemistry like that you can’t pass it up.
I will probably still see the Mummy movie, but I will probably put it behind other masterpieces like Dark Knight. I cannot wait for that.
So… I recently began the first season of Burn Notice, and I am blown away. It’s so amazingly great! I knew there was a reason everybody was raving about it, but I’m sad it took me this long to get on the bandwagon.
Tim Burton + Alic in Wonderland?? OMG. All I can think is this is going to be so amazingly trippy. Too bad it’s so far away.
We will never forget you Jenny! It cannot happen. Besides, I think collabs have to be helping spread the name. I always check the bookstore shelves when I go just to see if there is something fun there that I forgot about or maybe a reprint I don’t own yet… you never know!
On July 14, 2008 at 9:50 am LtL said...
Depressing? Depends on who’s doing the reading. All writing is a Rorschach test. In fact, the whole world and life in general is a Rorschach test.
BTW, every one of those inkblots is a picture of a butterfly, except the last one. It’s a picture of an exploding butterfly. Now you have no reason not to score in the genius range of that test.
On July 14, 2008 at 9:56 am McB said...
Crud. Lost my whole comment. Well.
Burn Notice: yes, they had to wrap up the loose end from last season while at the same time come up with a new job for Michael and the gang. I do think he could have cleared those trees going forward without a problem, but admit doing it in reverse was a pretty cool visual.
Can’t help you with the pool problem. It’s age old and I don’t think anyone ever figures it out.
Burton and Alice and Wonderland? That should be … interesting. Can’t wait to see what he does with the Cheshire Cat.
Sense of smell. I’ve had headcolds that did that to me so I understand what it can do to your apetite. Hope the dr has a fix.
Forget you? Huh. Said writer has never witnessed me doing the happy dance when I come across a new (or new to me) title by a favorite author. There IS a Santa Claus! Anyway, I’d rather have quality over quantity. Okay, I’d like to have both, really; but if I have to choose, make it quality.
On July 14, 2008 at 10:53 am robena grant said...
I just lost my comment too. Hope it doesn’t sneak in here later and you have two of the same. If I can even remember what I wrote five minutes ago, hey, it’s Monday.
Anyway, this was not depressing and forget you? Pfft! You’re the writing goddess. Sheesh. Just keep on writing and we’ll wait for the masterpieces. BTW, thank you for the Alan Rickman video, that sure made my morning. He is such a hottie.
On July 14, 2008 at 11:01 am Jenny said...
For McB and Roben I went into the spam folder. You weren’t there. Who knows where those posts went. Sorry.
On July 14, 2008 at 12:19 pm Cathy S. said...
If you still have water in the pools…grab a garden hose…fill it with water (best way to do this might be to connect it to the spiggot and add MORE water to the pool). Leave one end in the pool, disconnect the other end from the spiggot, keeping it high so no water escapes and carry that end down hill towards the river. Drop it where ever it ends, as long as it is downhill from the pool. You will have created a siphon and it will drain all of the water out of the pool until the level in the pool is so low that air gets in the pool end of the hose.
Repeat with the other pool.
Basic Physics 101!
On July 14, 2008 at 1:05 pm McB said...
Nah, I don’t think I got spammed. I think I did some mysterious keystroke thing and deleted myself. That doesn’t sound good, does it? How about an extreme backspacing? An unintentional do-over?
Cathy S. – oh yes, I remember this one: water always finds its own level. Good idea. Jenny, let us know if it worked.
On July 14, 2008 at 1:45 pm Cate said...
Jenny, Indy 2 was the worst movie ever made, with the possible exception of the first Star Trek movie. Indy 3 was great, but I haven’t seen 4 yet, so I am praying it hasn’t gone the way of the Trek movies where every other one is a dud.
Interesting about the sense of smell thing. Good luck at the Dr.
On July 14, 2008 at 3:12 pm McB said...
New Amsterdam – I tried to get into it but just couldn’t. Too much angst, I think. I avoid angst whenever possible.
Slave Driver – The memo was not author sanctioned (although we were never actually told not to do it, either), but don’t you think it’s important that really good books be shelved appropriately so that other customers can find them more easily? It’s a public service.
On July 14, 2008 at 3:37 pm Pat Rice said...
Since Nurse Eileen is hiding in the woods actually working, let me step in for her and remind you to keep that doctor appt! Not being able to smell may be a simple problem…or not. It’s those “or nots” you have to watch out for.
And your post wasn’t depressing. Maybe it’s that part about not being able to enjoy food that’s a downer. “G”
Going back to lurk now.
On July 14, 2008 at 3:56 pm Lou said...
Depressing?? Huh… I guess some folks are more easily depressed than others… I thought it was more along the lines of stream-of-conciousness stuff – kinda like James Joyce.
I sixth (or whatever number) the idea of going to the doctor. I seem to remember reading in one of those magazines that comes with the Sunday paper that a sudden loss of smell could mean something… (I don’t recall what the something was, but it could be a problem). Let us know you are O.K. when you find out!
Wolfie – that’s cute!!
On July 14, 2008 at 5:12 pm K.L. said...
Cathy got to my siphon tip before I could, but yes, it works great.
As to taste/smell. Most of taste is actually smell. Sweet/sour/salt/vinegar are tastes. Everything else is smell. Lose smell and you lose most of the enjoyment of food. Why do I know that? I have no idea. Probably high school science still floating around in my brain. Go figure.
On July 14, 2008 at 5:27 pm Evesie said...
Jenny,
Do you think you could find out more info about Tim Burton’s Alice? You’ve got inside connections, wink wink, so I’m guessing you might know if they are casting or just general deal, like is it a musical. Thanks so much.
Also, I don’t know if you’re familiar with Louise Hay, she’s a self-help guru, and in her “You Can Heal Your Life” book there is a note on what causes different disease. The nose represents self-recognition. A stuffy one (which is the closest I could find to not being able to smell things) is associated with not recognizing the self-worth. The affirmation provided in the book is, ” I Love and Appreciate Myself.” I hope that helps because we sure do appreciate you!!
On July 14, 2008 at 6:34 pm Jeepgirl said...
Everytime I have to cut down an old tree I plant a new one. Makes me feel better.
On July 14, 2008 at 7:59 pm talpianna said...
Jenny, not to scare you or anything, but I’ve been googling:
Causes of anosmia include:
Upper respiratory tract infection (e.g., sinusitis or the common cold)[4]
Nasal polyps
Smoking[citation needed]
Head trauma, damage to the ethmoid bone[5]
Dementia with Lewy bodies
Parkinson’s Disease[6]
Alzheimer’s Disease[7]
Toxins (especially acrylates, methacrylates[8] and cadmium[9][10])
Old age[11]
Kallmann syndrome
Laryngectomy with permanent tracheostomy
Esthesioneuroblastoma is an exceedingly rare cancerous tumor that originates in or near the olfactory nerve. Symptoms are anosmia (loss of sense of smell) often accompanied by chronic sinusitis.[12]
Intranasal Drug Use
Samter’s triad
“Dementia with Lewy bodies” sounds most like you (if I only knew what Lewy bodies are), but I’m betting on toxins in the form of fumes from the remodeling.
Here’s a link to the Anosmia Foundation of Canada, which may help:
http://www.anosmiafoundation.org/index.shtml
On July 14, 2008 at 8:00 pm GatorPerson said...
Cathy got to the hint first, then K.L. Siphoning works. It’ll take a while if the pool is big and the hose is little in diameter(or radius). But you can always watch the grass grow while it’s emptying. But don’t bother to watch the tree. It won’t grow any more. Hmmm. Not so. If the roots are alive it may sprout again.
On July 14, 2008 at 8:00 pm sheagal said...
Jenny – I giggled a little at the thought that you will be forgotten. Unlikely. I look forward to the next Crusie as much as anyone. But I love the idea of you having fun and fulfilling writing times with friends and collaborators. It makes me feel like I’ve been invited to the coolest sleep-over in fourth grade. Just do what seems fun and enriching. It’s all cool with us.
Rearranging bookshelfs hmm… I’m very civic-minded. I think I will need to do a little public service in my neighborhood Borders.
I’m sorry, but I have to second the pan on Indy 2. But I loved #1 and #3. Star Trek: The Movie. Yikes! It’s a mess.
On July 14, 2008 at 9:31 pm JulieB said...
““Dementia with Lewy bodies” sounds most like you (if I only knew what Lewy bodies are), but I’m betting on toxins in the form of fumes from the remodeling.”
That’s what they think my father had. It’s similar to Alzheimer’s Disease, however, the Lewy Bodies part means that the muscles behave unusually. Sometimes they are similar to Parkinsons, and, as in my dad’s case, they seem to freeze up. He had very little facial expressions before he died. (Shortly after he died my son had a dream and said “I know Grandpa is in heaven. I dreamed he was able to smile at me again.”)
I didn’t think your blog was depressing either. I think it’s a misunderstanding; Melissa Blue said she thought _her_ post was depressing.
My husband is a _huge_ Indy fan; we all are. I think he saw Indy 2 first, because he was in Europe when the first one came out. He has a _huge_ crush on Kate Capshaw. Personally, I, too, rank that 4th among the Indy movies. But I still like it very much, and enjoy her running around the forest while Indy and Short-round play cards. But no one is better than Marion.
On July 14, 2008 at 9:32 pm JulieB said...
Oh, meant to add, no, I don’t think you have Dementia w. Lewy Bodies.
On July 14, 2008 at 10:22 pm Karen Templeton said...
On family dinner with the contract guys: See STEP-BALL CHANGE by Jeanne Ray. You’ll relate.
On forgetting you: Like hell.
On HELL-BOY: Looks awesome, and I didn’t even see the first one.
On losing your sense of smell: Huh. Weird.
On the post being depressing: Not.
On July 14, 2008 at 10:29 pm Jill said...
Causes of anosmia include:
tal, you did not mention : Inability to tolerate the darn C-Pap
On July 14, 2008 at 10:41 pm Moth said...
Am I the only one who had a crush on Jonathan in The Mummy movies? He’s freaking adorable!
On July 14, 2008 at 10:48 pm Evesie said...
Moth – I second that. How about Riley from the National Treasure movies? Yum.
On July 14, 2008 at 10:58 pm patmcaudel said...
you have the right idea, i think our redo of the kitchen/bathroom/laundry took forever to finish. we supplied dinner most of the time. burrito’s from the wonderful Mexican restaurant, with rice/beads/beef/ cheese, and other stuff you might want…. then there was the take out chicken, and burgers…you will note at no time was there home made anything even when appliances were hooked up. like when they worked on bathroom first.
and thinking back, they never finished the kitchen, they left and didn’t ever finish, we have some great tools, but jon had to finish installing some stuff, and i still have to order for real counter tops.
hearing about your redo’s brought mine back to mind, i’m sending my best to you….and i don’t think you were depressed sounding either. in fact, you have sounded positively bouncy since callie joined in….
On July 14, 2008 at 11:18 pm talpianna said...
Jenny, you won’t be forgotten–it’s just in future times everyone will spell your name “Cruise” and think you were married to Tom….
I wonder if something similar happened to Shakespeare?
On July 15, 2008 at 12:17 am Merry said...
Slave Driver, I told McBoss to send the memo out to everyone. The bookstore-rearranging was supposed to be not officially sanctioned, that’s what made it so subversive. We were the guerrillas of the bookstore world, damn it. Or maybe that should be gorillas.
Based on these comments, I’ve decided that I’m officially staying away from Mummy III until it comes out on DVD. At the library, yet. There. That’ll show ‘em.
On a weird tangent: the area of the brain that controls the sense of smell is located next to the area of the brain that controls emotional memories. That’s why a whiff of a familiar scent can conjure up memories. Evolutionary-wise, these are very old parts of the brain.
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Sense-of-Smell-and-Emotional-Response&id=30423
On July 15, 2008 at 4:22 am Kieran said...
My very odd high school biology teacher (who might have had bolts on his neck under his white lab coat) called losing your sense of smell “nasal fatigue.” He said it in a really nasally way, too.
His explanation was that when your nose is bombarded with smells, it shuts down. For example, you don’t smell anything in your house, but your neighbor walks in and says, “Ewww! Did you steam broccoli last night?” or worse, “I can tell you have dogs.”
Well, too bad, neighbor! Just don’t come over, or stay long enough to get nasal fatigue!
On July 15, 2008 at 4:27 am Kieran said...
P.S. Don’t stay away from the big screen, Jenny! There’s nothing that says summer to me as much as going to the Cineplex and buying a huge bucket of popcorn (which I ask them to layer with butter) and sitting in the dark and watching a movie. Even if it’s not all good. I saw HANCOCK and it started off funny–a superhero who drinks too much and has a loser attitude–but I thought it got too dark and violent. But I’m a wimp and like only rom-coms.
On July 15, 2008 at 1:52 pm Slave Driver said...
McB and Merry, thanks for the intel. I got the full scoop from another source, also. So, it’s strategically
dumping piles of Jenny’s books on the front tables at B&N that the publishers have to pay for, asking for Jenny’s books and thenthrowing them into shopping baskets as people walk buy, while distracting them with Elvis sightings, recommending them to shoppersat knifepointright?Word of Mouth
GuerillaMarketing. I can do that, I have a lot of free time…On July 15, 2008 at 2:38 pm Danielle said...
Evesie – I totally second the yummy on Riley from National Treasure. He kept distracting me from Nicholas Cage…
On July 15, 2008 at 2:43 pm WapakGram said...
Slave Driver- you have learned the mission well. Nice touch with the Elvis sightings. We also do Bob’s books if we have extra time. His genre/s are all over the stores!
Jenny, please report in on the not so smell diagnosis. You know we are not good left alone with no pictures to color or ooh and ahh over.
On July 15, 2008 at 7:41 pm Melissa Blue said...
Thanks, JulieB, that is what I meant. Semantics and bad wording are dangerous things.
On July 15, 2008 at 8:24 pm JulieB said...
Dear Melissa,
No problem. I love to re=interpret what everyone says (he, he)
Evsie, et al. Yes. Riley. As someone whose had a very soft spot for Mr. Cage since “Valley Girl” I can agree that Riley is very distracting.
But. Oded. He totally ruled the Mummy. Hot flash moment….
On July 15, 2008 at 9:33 pm Office Wench Cherry said...
Has anyone been able to get in to see Dr Horrible on the official site? It’s not that I’m cheap or anything (I could be loosing my job – through no fault of my own) but if I can get in there tomorrow I’m not paying two bucks to download it from iTunes.
On July 15, 2008 at 9:52 pm Office Wench Cherry said...
Okay, so I tried again after posting here and I got in. It’s … Whedonesque. Many Whedons-esque.
On July 16, 2008 at 8:21 am LtL said...
Just watched the pilot for Burn Notice. Thanks for the link, Jenny.
So, in which episode does Tonto show up?
I’m blown away! Your spell checker recognized Tonto!
Anyway, good writing, though the FBI dudes are older than I remember, but time has passed for them, too, huh?
On July 16, 2008 at 9:00 am patmcaudel said...
has anyone seen that great site for the webshow imagenary bitches?? sooo funny.
http://imaginarybitches.com/Home.html
may have to cut and paste, everytime i tried to drag, it kept giving me the link…. i’m not the best computer person…
the show is fantastic…
On July 16, 2008 at 11:08 am Bruce A. said...
Yeepers! Keep that doctor’s appointment about the loss of smell.
There’s a young woman named Molly who was struck by a car several years ago and lost her sense of smell as a result. Even worse: she’d been working towards a career in food and cooking. BIG change in career plans since.
The good news: 1) Smells have slowly been coming back to her since the accident, as her brain injury heals and the brain rewires itself. And 2) she’s a hell of a good writer (even before the accident, she made working the pots-&-pans sink at a restaurant sound interesting), and she’s done a number of evocative posts about her experience with anosmia on her blog: My Madeleine
On July 16, 2008 at 11:47 am Jenny said...
I think it’s probably a combination of either a cold or allergies and old age. At least Gaffney pointed out that you lose all your sense as you age. She’s such a comfort.
Thank you Cathy and all for the siphon idea. I will try that as soon as I can get the hose unscrewed from the tap. Maybe one of the stone guys can do it for me; they jumped my car the other day. I’m going to miss these guys.
As for being forgotten . . . see next post.
On July 16, 2008 at 2:30 pm Eric said...
Hi, Jenny! You won’t be forgotten if I have anything to say about it–and since I get to assign your books in classes, I can string things out a nice long time.
I just sent a note to you (& Mollie, just for backup) about an academic shindig–drop me a line when you get the chance, to make sure the timing works for you!
Fingers crossed for your sense of smell–is there a saint for that?
–E
On July 17, 2008 at 12:54 pm Susan said...
Bless you for the Rickman clip. I don’t know how I missed that, but it was completely and utterly amazing.
On August 4, 2008 at 3:28 pm clew said...
Mm, Alan Rickman.
For orthogonal joy, this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E4mBoGX6Dw&feature=PlayList&p=198F319C1820BBC5&index=1
is maybe the only good tango I’ve ever seen that’s completely a tango but has no creepy in the built-in competition.