The Movie Based on the Book . . .

I'm always wary when I hear this phrase. I just know the book will be far better than the movie. Maybe it's because I'm a book person and I love to read.

Anyway, recently I've been reading a lot of the work by Jhumpa Lahiri including two collections of short stories: "Unaccustomed Earth" and "Interpreter of Maladies". I find her writing to be stunning and I practically fell headlong into these stories. I think they touched me in a special way because she writes primarily about immigrants to this country from India and/or their children. Because India, like Nigeria, was once a colony of Great Britain, there are many similarities in language. But, and I found this surprising, there are also many similarities between traditional Indian (Bengali) culture and traditional Igbo culture. What is most intriguing to me is how Ms. Lahiri tackles the complex conflict that arises when a person is transplanted from the land of their birth and childhood and begins a completely new life away from everyone and everything they have ever know. Online and in real life, I have seen how difficult life can be for immigrants (and sometimes but not as often for children of immigrants). I mean, people can be downright hostile to people who come here and have "an accent". Some of the staunchest opposition I've seen in my life are from folks with the same color skin who feel like African immigrants have stolen something that's not rightfully theirs. I don't remember which story of Ms. Lahiri's I read but a mother and daughter have gone out to the store and the store owner is talking to the daughter (who has an American accent) instead of the mother (who had an Indian accent). As if the mother is stupid and uneducated. I have been in that position too. And since my goverment name is not English, I have been on the receiving end of such hostility and ill-will until the person finds out I "speak English". As if speaking English with an accent isn't speaking English. Anyway, I think Ms. Lahiri does a masterful job of capturing these complexties with authenticity and poise.

After having read these two collections of short stories, I was ready to read her full length novel The Namesake. As usual, the writing was beautiful however I really do like the short stories better. I think she's a master at writing short stories.

When picking up the novel The Namesake at the library, one of the librarians asked if I had seen the film. I hadn't. I figured when I finished reading the book, I'd take a look at the film knowing full well the film would disappoint. And it did. Look, my biggest literary regret is having watched the film The Color Purple before reading the book. Never again if I can help it! Anyway, I had read the novel so I proceeded to watch the movie. I mean, the kids were doing their thing and I had to pause it 800 million times but I watched it. It was lovely filming but I felt like it missed so many of the nuances in the novel and important points and emotions that were conveyed in the writing.

For example, the Ganguli family comes home from a trip to India only to find some racist grafitti on their mailbox. Gogol, the son, is incensed. His father takes it all in stride. In the novel, Lahiri is careful to show how much his father's indifference annoyed Gogol. Gogol cannot understand his father. His father cannot understand him. Even though they are father and son, there is a huge gulf between them fostered by the fact that Gogol is American. But Indian too.

Also, the main struggle in the book is Gogol's real hatred of his name. I mean, he hates it. He fights against it relentlessly and eventually changes it as an adult only to find that he cannot get away from it. The movie kind of glosses over that but that struggle, in my opinion, is the crux of the whole book. It's not my opinion actually. The name of the novel is The Namesake. It's essential to talk about, at length and in depth, the name!

There are so many other examples . . . I mean, I guess if they tried to film every little detail we would have been watching a 6 hour mini-saga. But I could have done without the movie. I enjoyed immensely the visual images Ms. Lahiri created in her novel and would recommend her writing to anyone. It is like rich chocolate for the mind.

And as an aspiring writer myself, I was encouraged so much by the fact that Ms. Lahiri is successful as a short story writer (because I mainly write short stores).

Oh, and I remind myself to stay away from movies based on the book . . .

Nobody can give you freedom . . .

Very few people come along speaking truth so profound it's obvious. Too revolutionary for the textbooks but just what is needed right now. I didn't learn about this brother until I was an adult. That will not be the case for my children. His autobiography changed my entire life and he remains an inspiration and motivation to me.

Happy Birthday El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz!

Thanks for this post Black Girl in Maine and this post Raet.

Picture courtesy of http://anti-drugwar.org/

Is it the end of the road?

For this blog?
I seem to have lost momentum and inspiration. I used to think of things to blog about all the time: in the shower, while driving, while changing a diaper. I had dozens of drafts for blogs. Recently, though, nothing. I did realize that I never shared my slamming vegan sweet potato pie recipe and also the recipe for Black Jack Chili. I will. But after that, who knows? I've been blogging for a year now with over 300 posts. Maybe it is the end of the road.

Letter to Myself

I've been trying to find a window of opportunity to blog all day but it hasn't happened till now. And even now I should be sleeping since I have to get up to exercise. But I really wanted to share this today.

I spent my pregnancy with Z1 extremely depressed at times longing for my "mommy", wanting to be cherished and nurtured. But this is not something my mother could offer. Two years ago, I wrote an entry in my journal about my mother and how I have come to deal with our relationship. It's a letter to myself and while my overstanding of the Almighty has changed quite a bit since then, the letter is still essentially true.

You were blessed with a mother who is not described by any of the warm, fuzzy Hallmark Mother's Day Greeting Cards. In fact, you pore through countless cards trying to find the most generic, non-specific card there is. You can't get one that says, "You always know what to say to lift my spirit". Not true. No, you look for cards that say, "Hope your day is great!"

There are two ways you can respond to this in the light of the fact that you are completely grown. You could become very bitter and angry, snap and complain at every opportunity. Or you can accept her for who and how she is, realizing that she's human only and has human flaws. Also, she is not in this world to live up to your expectation or idea of what a mother should be. She did for you and gave you the best she could. You may not think it was the best but it was. If she could have done better, she would have. You may be thinking she should have given me this or that because she had the ability but even if she did have the ability physically, mentally or psychologically she was not in a place where she could give you more, you cannot fault her for it. You're grown enough now to cut that umbilical cord and connect it to the Almighty who can be everything and anything you need. You can expect unwaveringly that the Almighty will always give you what you need, when you need it and how you need it.

When you let your natural, physical mother off the hook, forgive her and forgive yourself for believing that somehow it was you that caused your mother to treat you the way she did, you re-connect to a Higher Power, you free yourself and allow yourself the space to heal. When you begin to realize that you are who you are because of your mother and not in spite of, you learn to be grateful. Right now, you are blessed with a chance to be whole. You have the chance to be the way you want. You started out on this road a long time ago before you even knew yourself and you've been traveling on it for many years. There have been many potholes and bumps. You now realize that this particular road is not leading to where you'd like to go. You have the ability to get off at the next exit. You can pick the next road. You can decide the kind of woman you're going to be. You determine, most especially, the kind of mother you are going to be.

I hope all the mothers (mothers with their own children, spiritual mothers, godmothers, etc) enjoyed the day.

Photo Credit: "dedicated to moms everywhere (happy mother's day 2008 #2)" by jmtimages

I Can't Stand the Rain!

Thank God today is sunny and warm!

My first introduction to this song was back in high school when Misdemeanor Eliot ("Missy") sampled it. I loved it then (and still do) but didn't know it was old school. I should have. I've always thought Missy was so creative and like me, marched to her own drum. Anyway, wanted to share some music on this lovely day!





Have a great weekend!

I didn't mention . . .

That I finished my story. I was waiting for inspiration to hit and well, it just wasn't. So one day when the hubby was off, I pushed him and the boys out. I spent 3 to 4 hours and finished it. I retitled it "The Oracle" and while I don't think it's my finest writing and I know it still needs work, it is a good skeleton.

If you'd like to read it and tell me *honestly* what you think (be brutally honest), please e-mail me!

Funny.Ironic.

Just when I was getting down on my good old thrift store, it hooked a sista up! I got two flyy cotton blouses and one pair of 100% linen pants (size 12!!!! and not 14!!!!! and they fit perfectly!!!! although a little too long--nothing that's not easily fixed). The pants and one of the blouses make a complete outfit. Got Z1 a Gant hoodie and a Gap dress shirt too. Grand total: $10.91. I'm stoked! Like the universe knew I needed a pick me up.

Sacrificing too much?

I guess it's a question that every mother has to ask herself. One thing I have clearly understood about motherhood is that it's insanely difficult to find the balance.

I've been a stay-at-home mom now for some years and overall, I enjoy it. Sometimes, though, I take a break from the constant diaper changing, breastfeeding, hand washing, nose and butt wiping and wonder . . . what the fuck am I doing?

How much sacrifice is too much?

I look at my house and all the work that needs to be done. It's a lot of work. Yet, the repairs and renovations go at a snail's pace because there's only one income. Two incomes would move the work along. Would make it so that I wouldn't feel embarrassed when folks visit and see the kitchen (my stove was manufactured in 1959--no joke) and the bathroom (which needed to be re-tiled about 10 years ago). We could have replaced all the doors at one time instead of doing the front door this month and the back door only God knows when. Two incomes would make the place ready to rent. Make getting out of this town more of a near-future possibility. And getting out of this town would be . . . fabulous.

I look at myself. The clothes I wear. Actually, the clothes I hate to wear. I'd like to go into a regular store (not the thrift store) and buy stuff that fits right and that's cute (on sale and on clearance of course because I still can't get with paying crazy high prices for things). Two incomes would help.

But then the other half of the time, I am overwhelmed by what a blessing it is that I can stay at home with my boys. There are many sacrifices involved but we eat well, are dressed well. Our home keeps us warm and sheltered. Plus we have small luxuries to boot. The hubby supports my staying at home (at least until Z2 is school age). It's not like I'm making the choice between staying at home and basic necessities. The choice I'm making is between staying at home and moving up and out quickly/looking the way I'd like to look.

And then there's homeschooling, something that I've had my heart set on to do for a long time. Full-time work and homeschooling seem incompatible. Could something work out?

My initial teaching certification expires in 2010. I'll renew but do I want to go back to teaching? My first experience was so traumatizing. Maybe dealing with 5 and 6 year olds would be better? Could I even get back into the field if I wanted? It's been almost 5 years since I graduated.

Eh, this post seems like reiterations of the same old issues but sometimes it just weighs so heavily on me. Am I sacrificing my very self to be a stay at home mom? Is it worth it?

I've actually been sort of looking for some kind of part time job--to make enough money to cover classes and stuff for the boys as well as maybe groceries and the things I need to make me feel, well, cute again and to just be out and functioning in a different capacity.

Keep your fingers crossed for me: I noticed that the hubby's alma mater doesn't have a crochet class in its School of Continuing Education. I proposed it to them. That would be great actually . . . working very part time, making decent money, doing something I like.

Who's Afraid of . . .

the big bad flu?

Not me.

I don't know . . . my head is in a good place right now. Whatever this flu is or isn't, I know the best thing is to work on our immune systems. As usual, the *only* thing you have control of is yourself, your thoughts and your actions.

So, I'm regulating all sugar (even though we don't use white sugar, being easy with sugar is still best). I just ordered some sodium ascorbate (vitamin C) because we're running low. I was just reminded about the importance of the mineral selenium. We eat a lot of the foods that are rich in it but I may also get a supplement. I've got my echinacea and goldenseal tinctures at the ready and raw honey too. We get plenty of garlic in our food. We're drinking enough water. Getting our green smoothies and other fruits and veggies in. Exercising. Getting good sun. And just getting on with our lives.

Sleeping through the night?

Okay, Z2 slept really well last night. From 8:30 till about 4:10. I woke up feeling extremely well rested. Will it be a repeat performance tonight? I don't know. I certainly ain't getting my hopes up! But, oh my goodness, it feels good to be well rested today. I feel like I could do anything!!

Ready to give making soymilk and tofu a try

We had a soymilk maker that I returned because what I really wanted at the time was to make rice milk (which was a huge mess in the soy milk maker). Since I'm no longer as wary of soy as I once was and since we are eating tofu and drinking soy milk (in porridge and tea) regularly, I think I'm ready to give it another go. I think the hubby would be down for re-purchasing a soymilk maker (that's the link to the one we had before) but I'd like to give making it without one a try. I can get soybeans pretty inexpensively and I would need to find a tofu press (to get bricks of tofu as opposed to balls and other odd shapes) as well as an large inexpensive stainless steel pot (you need three stock type pots and I only have two). I may employ the hubby to think of some kind of homemade tofu press.

The process for making soy milk and tofu actually doesn't seem as daunting as it once did. However . . . this morning's workout was another bust since Z2 woke at 6 on the dot. Do I really want to add anything onto the hecticness of things right now?? We'll see. I'm really leaning towards it though. I think that would be a great step towards self-sufficiency especially if I could grow my own soybeans.

Photo Credit: "Tofu Press" by ashe-villain on Flickr.com

Happy Thrifting!!!

A few months ago, I scored for $4.99 each, stone loaf pans by Pfaltzgraff. I think they retail for about $25 a piece. These pans bake beautiful loaves of yeasted breads and my banana nut, pumpkin and cranberry orange quick breads have such a lovely texture using these loaf pans.

Yesterday, for $5.99, a beautiful tea pot (with a built in) strainer made in Japan, The gentleman who was ringing me up said that two other folks had picked it up and then decided against buying it. I guess it was waiting for me!!

Happy thrifting indeed! :)

Enjoying the Right Now . . .

During my hiatus, I made the decision to just enjoy what is right now. It might end tomorrow but I am focused on deriving great joy from my daily shower, enjoying coasting down a wide open highway, checking my e-mail anytime I get good and ready. I'm still interested in emergency preparedness and getting my family through tough times comfortably but I am determined to enjoy right now. As long as there's life, health and strength . . . why not?

I get it. Economic depression. End of cheap oil. Food shortages. All these things loom as very real possibilities for our near futures (if not current realities).

But this weekend, the weather will be GREAT. In the 80s. After a long hard winter, I am ready, you hear? R.e.a.d.y!!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I will.

Photo Credit: Spring Time in Tennessee by countryboy1949 on Flickr

He's a Biter!!!

Z2 is a biter and it is just so unnerving. Everywhere we go I spend the whole time chasing him around to make sure he doesn't sink his teeth into some unsuspecting little person. It's not malicious. Not always. I mean, if you take something he's playing with, he will try to bite you. Z1 knows this firsthand and all too well. But most of the time, biting is part of some bear hug, "I'm trying to be your friend" ritual. I can't wait till this stage is through!

I am continually taken by how different children, even children with the same father and mother, can be. Our issue with Z1 was that he didn't bite enough. He would swallow chunks of food whole and we'd have great fun identifying things in his diaper. Z2 on the other hand chews everything thoroughly. Z1 was reserved and took a long time to warm up to other kids. Z2, though, will walk right up and . . . bite. Z2 is adventurous and climbs thing with little to no regard as to what might happen should he lose his footing. Z1 has always been extremely cautious with himself and although he injures himself from time to time, it's more so because he's not watching his step not because he's willfully being daring.

Anyway, we've dubbed Z2 "Little Chomper". He's still too cute.



Picture courtesy of http://www.dkimages.com/discover/DKIMAGES/Discover/Home/Health-and-Beauty/Human-Body/Skeletal-System/Skull/Teeth/Teeth-28.html

I'm back . . .

I was trying to think of some clever way to make my re-entry into the world of blogging but I couldn't. But I'm back--back with a much clearer vision of how I want internet usage to be a part of my life. I'm catching up on blogs. Unsubcribing from others. Sorting through e-mail. Paying bills (was worried I'd have to go get some stamps for a minute there). Generally getting re-acclimated.

Peace.