Monday, November 30, 2009

Et tu, Barbie? And related tidbits

Tidbit #1: I love Barbie. OK, I heart Barbie in a way that would embarrass a lot of 5-year-old girls. Now, mind you, I love the really, really, ridiculously expensive Barbies that no one in their right mind would let a 5-year-old touch, let alone play with. My Barbie collection is pretty small because I can't afford all of those gorgeous, bedazzling, Bob Mackie-clad Barbies but I can tell you all about them. The glitter! The eyelashes! The over-the-top fashions and deliciously high heels! Ohhhhhhh, how I love them! (Did you know that Christian Louboutin thinks Barbie has cankles? What gall!) The latest Barbie Collector catalog arrived today, which brings me to...

Tidbit #2: Barbie has caught Twilight mania. The lovely folks at Mattel have created Bella and Edward - is nothing sacred?? (Stephanie? Do you need the smelling salts?) We'll see if my feelings change between now and Christmas, because...

Tidbit #3: In a very odd coincidence, all four Twilight books also arrived in the mail today. I am planning to celebrate Christmas with my middle sister and her family and my oldest niece is Twilight crazy. She sent the books to me so I can read them before Christmas. I love to read but my pace has slowed significantly these last months...four novels may be a tall order in less than 4 weeks. Especially when this is occupying the reading space in my head:

Tidbit #4: I drove 9 hours to my parents' house for Thanksgiving. I listened to the audiobook version of Loving Frank by Nancy Horan on the way there. I was disappointed to hear at the very beginning that it was an abridged version - I don't like abridged, I might miss something! - but it was still 6 hours of listening pleasure so I went ahead. I LOVED it!! I have been a huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and the Prairie Style for years but never knew anything about his personal life. It's a wonderful, shocking true story and I want to get the book and read it in all of its fabulous unabridgedness and then keep it for my very own. My mom read it and loved it and my youngest sister has considered reading it - we all have very different tastes in reading material but it appeals to all of us. Youngest sister (hmmmm, my sisters need code names) may suggest it for her book club. I think it would be a terrific choice - the discussion would be so much fun! I listened to the book 5 days ago and I'm still thinking about it. It's a good one.

Tidbit #5: During the drive home, I listened to One for the Money by Janet Evanovich. I realized about two pages in (or maybe two paragraphs) that I had already read or listened to it. It's the bane of a voracious reader's life, I suppose - reading so many books that one doesn't recognize the title or cover of all the books one has previously consumed. Since I only took two audiobooks with me, it made for a long ride home. And made me consider the merits of keeping a record of all the books I read.

and a completely unrelated Tidbit #6: Overheard on tonight's episode of Accidentally on Purpose, a show that seems such fluff that it shouldn't keep my attention but I keep watching it:

James (the ex-bf): I miss you.
Billie: You should miss me. I am wonderful!

I love that.

6 comments:

  1. I had no idea you loved Barbies. This makes me wonder whatever happened to mine from way back when--it was the first thing I asked for when I was old enough to have a Christmas wish.
    I need to read that book about Frank Lloyd Wright--I've toured the Talesin twice and adore his work.

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  2. That Frank Lloyd Wright book sounds interesting - I'm going to see if my library has it.

    Believe me, it feels wonderful when you use Billie's line - I've done it!

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  3. The Frank Lloyd Wright book DOES sound interesting. I'm going to have to check it out. :)

    I loved all the Twilight books, but all 4 in 4 weeks will be a bit tough. Especially if you have to leave your house during those 4 weeks. ;-)

    Yep, Billie's line? Have used it and meant it! ;-)

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  4. Greenie - I love the fancy Barbies so much that my One True Love won’t need to buy me a diamond ring to win my hand…just win a bid for the Princess of India Barbie on ebay!

    Annie - I am hoping I get the chance to use Billie's line...because I AM wonderful.

    Pissy - I'm on page 348 of the first Twilight book. At this point, I'm hoping to get through the first two books before Christmas, that should be enough.

    You all must read Loving Frank! I visited the Dana Thomas House, an FLW house in Springfield, IL, a few months ago and I pictured it in my head as I listened to many of the descriptions in the book. Two weeks later and I’m still thinking about the story – that’s impressive.

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  5. I tried to comment on this post days ago, but the computer I use at work likes to freeze randomly and then I was going to do it when I got home but every time I get closer to the computer rather than the boxes that are still waiting to be unpacked, my husband starts to nag.

    Anyway, I am not so far gone that I'd buy Edward and Bella barbies... although, you never know. (That's be totally something I'd never admit to, by the way.) However, I used to collect Barbie dolls. The fancy shmancy ones, too. They were so beautiful. I'm sorry to say I have no idea where they are now. Sigh.

    Now, it's been a week since you wrote this post. HOW FAR ALONG ARE YOU WITH THE BOOKS, WOMAN??? I'm dying to find out what you think. Don't worry, if you don't love them, I'll survive (somehow)... just give me something!

    Oh, and about the whole "forgetting which books you've read" thing? Yeah, I keep doing that. Totally sucks.

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  6. We went to a fabulous Barbie exhibit at our toy and Miniature Museum over Thanksgiving - many fab Bob Mackie Barbies!

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