Aaron Eckhart with Martin Short

One of the many things there is to love about Aaron Eckhart is that he's so classy about the fact he's not Mormon anymore.

Martin Short, as Jiminy Glick: and you're a catholic boy
Aaron Eckhart: No, I was raised Mormon
Martin Short: Mormon! a-ha-ha, that's what is so wonderful about America. If you're Muslim, be Muslim. If you're a Buddhist, be Buddhist. If you're a Presbyterian, well hide that. ....Were you supporting Mitt?
Aaron Eckhart: I've been working [on location as an actor]... I'm really oblivious to the campaign, to all the races. I don't know who I'm supporting yet.

though all the ridiculous things Martin Short/Jiminy Glick then goes on to say, never once does Aaron Eckhart duck the mormon jokes by clarifying that he's not mormon.

Ah, sigh. So gallant. Excuse me while I go watch Conversations with Other Women again.

Stephen Carter's kid book recommendations.

Stephen Carter says:
I’m totally with you about testing work in the cleansing fire of reading it aloud to kids. I read a book each day to a group of 3rd and 4th grade boys for a few months and quickly found out which authors had the chops. Dan Gutman emerged gloriously as did Eion Colfer. Jon Scieszka did well too. The best read-aloud I came across, though, was The Giggler Treatment. It practically read itself.

Note to self: find these books and provide them to my children.

Audiobooks: the key to getting housework done.

Cheaper than a cleaning service is a subscription to audible.com.

I can personally, and enthusiastically, recommend these titles for your listening pleasure:

Very Valentine, narrated by Cassandra Campbell
Rococco, narrated by Steven Hoye
Lucia, Lucia, narrated by Cassandra Campbell

I love how Cassandra Campbell reads. I got The Beach House (by Jane Green) just to have her tell me more. Unfortunately, the Beach House was at points too dicey for when my kids were around. And I don't like to wear headphones all that much.

I tried Big Stone Gap read by the author. Love the author Adriana Trigiani, but did not want to hear her read to me. Go with Cassandra.

Steven Hoye's an entertaining reader too, and the material by Adriana Trigiani great fun. Unfortunately, I haven't found another book he narrates that I want to hear. I'm looking for light narrative that will keep me working.

I've got a load of laundry waiting to be folded, and nothing to listen to right now. I'm going to try _The School for Essential Ingredients_ because Cassandra Campbell is reading it.

yay washing machine!

I didn't really look at the washing machine that came with the house until today. That means I didn't much look at it during the open house visit, or when we bid on the house, or during the house introduction tour, or during the three-day move. Today is the first day I looked at the machine, tried to find a manual online, and found out this unremarkable-looking 1999/2000 Kenmore, model 40052, has a much larger capacity than I realized. It's actually a high efficiency front loader, and it's washing a bigger load than any of my last three washing machines did.

In other words, no need to buy a new washing machine at all.

The model has some good reviews out on the web. I got a manual at Sear's my house site. Given the fact that the people who lived here before were way smarter than me at all things engineering, I'm relieved to rely on their wiser appliance choice.

My first load is in the dryer now. Can't wait. The washing machine has charmed me. I think I'm falling in love.

_To Kill a Mockingbird_ should be in audio. Or etext.

My bookclub is reading To Kill a Mockingbird later this month. Believe it or not, I've never read it before, and never seen the movie. I've always preferred to read about the more distant past, or the fictional future.

It would be very CONVENIENT if I could read it on my Stanza iPhone. Or listen to it as an audio book. But, Nooooo, the holders of the copyright have apparently not let either of those happen. Because, the book is not available in those formats.

I've got a nice bound edition from the library. Had it two weeks. Haven't cracked it open. Meanwhile, I've read three novels on my iPhone and listened to one novel and part of the old Hitchiker's Guide radio show as audiobook.

People, if you want us to learn the lessons of this classic, make it easy.

The LIfe You Can Save

I don't have much the time of day for the animal rights movement. But what I can do about world poverty is a topic that does catch my attention.

I'm sure I'll disagree with a significant minority of what he might say, but I'd going to read The Life You Can Save. The interview (I'm listening to on the radio right now) is intriguing. I'm especially intrigued by the idea of tithing, since that's a concept I'm familiar with, it really works in my church.

http://www.thelifeyoucansave.com/
On the site you an pledge to give an adjusted percentage of your income to decreasing world poverty.

houuxx

It's like a cool decorating magazine, full of pictures, but online.
http://www.houzz.com/

My houzz scrapbook