I only use my pockets once a week

Utah winters keep a coat on me constantly; however, being an avid purse carrier I rarely use the pockets. At work we have to wear name tags presenting ourselves as a happy-helper to answer a number of various questions. Questions like, 'where's the felt' 'what kind of mat should I use with this piece' and surprisingly many guys come in who need a second opinion on which frame to buy from our ready-mades. I've been asked more times than I would like to admit, 'do you work here?' as I had currently mis-placed my tag. Who knew that little 2 by 4 piece was such a needed accessory? 'Cause you know, you might miss a worker if only identified by classy tan pants and black shirt. And back to the post title. My pre-mentioned name tag was nestled in my coat pocket. After I had scoured the path to the laundry, flipped through every single piece of clothing, swiped my hand along the washer and dryer searching for the magnetic piece of plastic and done nothing short of scoping a flashlight in both it was in my pocket the whole time! What a little sneak.

I wasn't going to report the tag as 'lost' because we're actually switching things up at work. I guess employees voiced their opinion about being denied expression in a craft store and out came the following brilliant idea. T-shirts. Regular t-shirts with screen printing on the back and a little piece of print up front for the employee (that's me) to write their name artisticly neat. Is there such a thing? Is that an oxymoron?

I am not totally upset, I mean... I never was much of a doodler. Therefore my name will easily fit into the category of 'neat' and maybe I can retrace the letters to make them bolder to give it some individual artistic flare. 'Cause thickening up a few lines is really artistic, right? But what if people judge me by my handwritten name? What if they look at that name and silently do a handwriting analysis: very readable (organized, purposeful, efficient), it drives me crazy when my 's' don't look identical (patience, perseverance), and lastly, sensitive (because my 'J' is capitalized, as is my 'A' because I think it looks more balanced with a tall letter at the beginning and end of my name). I can sum that up into two words, "kinda boring." See why I don't want people seeing my name written in my handwriting?

Now, these t-shirts are not just your basic white T. No Plain White Ts in a craft store, please! (And that includes in the music choice. Our target customers were raised in the 80's, therefore our background, easy-listening music is suffocating its way to the 90s) These t-shirts have various experts posted on the back. 'Framing Expert' 'Cake Expert' 'Art Expert' and my personal favorite, 'Party Expert.' That's right. A t-shirt that says Party Expert. Who wouldn't want to be an expert on every party ever thrown? But even if I got the shirt with 'Party Expert' screened all over the back people would take one look at my handwritten name and turn the other way and run fast. Because obviously someone who's 's's look just the same and who starts and ends their name with a capital letter to keep it looking balanced cannot be trusted to plan a raging party. Even if it's a jewelry making party. Perhaps I will keep wearing my printed name tag till the day that I resign.

After the First Death

After the First Death
Robert Cormier
288 pgs
Puffin (2006)
Subject Matter: death, terrorism, kids, loyalty

A school bus is hijacked by terrorists and the driver tries to save them by driving away. The bus is halted on a bridge and one of the children is shot. The story is told from the perspective of two foreign terrorists, Kate, a 16-year-old who is driving the bus and automatically becomes the caregiver of the children who she was driving to summer camp, and the son of the American general who is negotiating.

Review: Done very realistically and believable. Many heart strings are pulled as chapters are told by different perspectives.

Now You Know: Dramatic and colorful language

The Wednesday Wars

The Wednesday Wars
Gary D. Schmidt
272 pgs
Sandpiper (2009)
Subject Matter: religion, track, school, rats, creampuffs, Shakespeare

Holling creates a problem for Mrs. Baker right from the start. He is not of one of the main religions in his school and therefore has to stay in his home room while the rest of his classmates go to release times. At first Mrs. Baker tries to pawn him off to other teachers so that she may have a break from students for a hour. As the year goes on and Holling can no longer clean the erasers and he lets the rats of the cage when cleaning Mrs. Baker takes a special interest in him and they become quite good friends. She introduces Holling to Shakespeare which results in him playing a part in the Shakespeare festival. She arranges a meeting between Holling and the New York Yankees and saves and architecture firm from going under as she finds work for them. As her and Holling spend more time together Holling learns some secrets about this teacher that has her class under such strict demand.

Review: A touching teacher/student book of relationships and how they aren't always as bad as they seem to be at first.

Now You Know: Nothing in this book is bad.

Spinners

Spinners
Donna Jo Napoli
208 pgs
Puffin (2001)

A ploy of Rumplestiltskin, a tailor wants to win the hand of his true love. She is pregnant with his child, but her father will not allow the communion because he does not believe that the tailor will be able to take care of his daughter. The tailor takes a magical spinning wheel without asking to spin a wedding dress of gold and spins so long into the night that his leg becomes cramped and crippled forever, preventing him from his workship. The beautiful maiden runs from him and his nasty appearance. The baby is born and the mother dies, but the baby is left with a gift for spinning and becomes famous for it.

Review: Incredible idea of the daughter having the spinning talent of her father and being able to make thread out of anything. Very intriguing.

Now You Know: It does not follow like the rest of Napoli's fairy tales. Saskia is her own person and does not have anything more in common with her father than her spinning.

Me, Dead Dad, and Alcatraz

Me, Dead Dad, and Alcatraz
Chris Lynch
240 pgs
Harper Collins (2005)

For the first fourteen years of his life Elvin has been told that his father is dead and that all other relatives of his are gone. One day Elvin comes home from school to find an uncle, that his mother had never admitted to knowing, sitting on his couch. Apparently Uncle Alex has been in jail but is now willing to become the father figure in Elvin's life. Growing up with only his mother, Elvin has a hard time adjusting to another man in the house and does not appreciate the 'fixing up' his uncle tries to do for him, including nearly killing him at the gym with a vigorous work-out, getting his hair cut, and questioning his masculinity infront of his friends. Elvin does not welcome his uncle at all and does all that he can to get rid of him.

Review: A humorous book that allows a fourteen-year-old boy to be himself and describes the difficulties of growing up and not being happy with one's self, as we all have done before.

Now You Know: There isn't anything in this book that would be seen as offensive.

Donna Parker in Hollywood

Donna Parker in Hollywood
Marcia Martin
282 pgs
Whitman (1961)
Subject Matter: Hollywood, ganesha, illness, famous people

Donna is living with her glamorous aunt and uncle for the summer in a town a little south of Hollywood. Donna is from the east coast and finds that there are stereotypes about her home that she did not know of and that she does not fill. She is invited to lunch with one of the more popular girls of the area but becomes better friends with the girl next door. Donna is a naive girl from the east coast and does not understand publicity and the problems that go with it.

Review: A good leisure reading book as it tells of what we all wish would happen to us

Now You Know: very drawn out, not very adventuresome and a lot of time spent to thoughts that are not made clear from actual words said.

Fighting Blood

(There is no cover art for this book)

Fighting Blood

William Heyliger

248 pgs

The Goldsmith Press (1932)

Subject Matter: football, leadership, coaching, team captain

Tarly Ball came into high school with the attitude of making something of himself. The school football team has not won a game in many years and is coached by a teacher who would rather be writing scientific papers than out on the field yelling orders. Sophomore year Tarly is elected captain of the team and makes them work hard enough to win. He continues to be captain through to his senior year and coaches with that title. He spends his time thinking football and making up plays in his free time. His senior year the school hires a real coach who Tarly is intimidated by because he fears the control he has being taken from him. Tarly feels he has ownership over the team because he brought them from the dust but he learns that there is still much to be learned. Through a long, hard fight, Tarly is humbled and his leadership crumbles as he becomes a member of the team rather than the head lion.

Review: Definitely written in the 30's. It is not clear, concise language and takes a little bit to get into the roll of it. Interesting plot line and a boy who enjoys football I think could wrestle through it.

Now You Know: There is nothing in this book that needs to be censored. Just a good book about football and being humble enough to learn football and not just play.