August 29, 2005

• MONDAY BOOK(S)

  The Oz Books

  I would have had this posted sooner but just as I was finished this morning, the power cut out for less than a minute but long enough to destroy the whole thing. It’s that kind of morning in Portland, Oregon – gray and nostalgic after days of sun and heat. So I went looking for something old on my shelves to write about (nothing new being ready) and noticed my little group of tattered Oz books huddled on a low shelf together waiting to be remembered. In my isolated farm childhood years, a big-city aunt made it her mission to send me one of the canon of 40 Oz books each holiday and birthday. The first 14 were written by L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) starting in 1900 with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz when he was 44. It can be read in its entirety here. Of those 14, I have four and two more by Ruth Plumly Thompson, who took over when Baum died. They’re probably worth a mint, but I’ll never find out because I’d never let them go. One of the best things about them was the illustrations, John R. Neill being responsible for 39 of the 40. Many dreary days back then were made enchanted for me by the beautiful princesses, unlikely heroes, evil witches, gnomes, and of course Dorothy who found that, by clicking the heels of her magical red shoes and saying the words, “There’s no place like home,” she could go home again. Let’s see – where did I put my red shoes?
  

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  Deep Thought: “I’d like to see a James Bond movie where James Bond gets behind financially and maybe has to take out a bill consolidation loan, because even when he’s applying for the loan he’s still real smart-alecky.”
  Today I am grateful for: The word “thing” and all its uses
  Guess the Movie: “We’ll always have Paris.” Answer: Casablanca, 1942. Winner: soobee72.
  Bush Suffers Ratings Tumble as Sunnis Reject Iraq Charter
  By David Usborne
  President George Bush’s exit strategy from Iraq suffered a severe setback yesterday when Sunni negotiators rejected a new constitution, increasing the chances of outright civil war.
  After a series of delays and missed deadlines, the negotiating committee delivered the completed draft constitution to the Iraqi parliament, but the assembly failed to vote on the text after the 15 Sunni members – a minority of the committee – rejected the draft because of continuing disagreement on federalism. (Rest of article here.)
  End of Day: 10:37 pm
  + = Much needed rain today.
  - = What the heck am I doing up so late?!

  • 3:14 pm
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