Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Colors in my house by Lany 1. Lettuce Alone-the new color to the Craft room. It's a light green. 2. Antique white. They used to recommend that you paint everything neutral. A lot of the house is in antique white. 3. Buff Apple. It's a white with a hint of color. Painted what was the nursery and now the den. 4. Sunflower--the girls' room is painted partly yellow 5. Bonnet Blue--a very light sky blue covers part of the girls' wall. 6. Shell White--all our trim is shell white and the clouds painted overtop the sky blue are done in shell white. 7. Powder Blue--A dark deep blue is what our shutters and front door are painted 8. grey--the house is painted a greyish color 9. Light beige--all the outside trim is painted in this color 10. granite grey--the roof 11. Dirty beige--our carpets. No it isn't a color. The carpets needed to be replaced when we moved in. But with pets and young children, we said, "We can wait." We are still waiting. 12. black--the dog's hair is very persistent. It sticks around and rolls like tumbleweeds 13. royal blue--the curtains downstairs are a medium bluish. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Country performers I like a lot right now by Lany of Melany Logen Yes, I listen a lot to country music. Went from Alternative to Country LOL. 1. Big and Rich—I saw a lot talking about them like they were a “fad band” when Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy came out. Two albums later, and they are still around. And with the 8th of November, Lost in this Moment, Somewhere Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace and so many other songs, they have established themselves as a powerhouse of country music. I think I’ve liked about everything they’ve had out. 2. Gretchen Wilson—I don’t care for her ballads, I dunno why because she has a beautiful voice, but I love her upbeat stuff. Redneck Woman reminded me so much of where I grew up LOL. I like I’m here for the party, You don’t have to go home, and California Girls. 3. Kellie Pickler—Had no idea she was from Idol until after I’d heard her. Red High Heels is such a fun song. I Wonder is haunting. It’s about her relationship or lack thereof with her mother. I heard her do it live (on the radio) and it’s amazing how much emotion she can pack into a lyric. My youngest will sing it, though the idea of the song, an absent mother, bothers her. 4. Taylor Swift—her fist two songs were okay. Liked her voice but didn’t care for the ballads. Our Song has quickly become a favorite. It’s offbeat and upbeat enough that I think it reflects on her voice well. LOL my youngest has been singing it, too. 5. Brad Paisley—I had never been a Brad Paisley fan. I liked some of his duets but was mehhhh on his solo work. Until Ticks and Online. Ticks is such a sexy song with a very small town feel. And Online is hilarious. LOL. I can have a three way chat with three women at one time. 6. The Wreckers—For some reason in country, I’ve usually gravitated to female voices. I love the Wreckers' sound. And they do ballads and upbeat songs well. My Oh My, Tennessee, and Leave the Pieces when you go have all been faves. And oddly enough, they and one other are the only music acts that have thanked me for my friendship at MySpace. Now I’m sure it was an assistant and not them, but it was such a nice touch. 7. Trent Tomlinson—Drunker than me was a funny song that even my hating twang hubby could appreciate. And One Wing in the Fire, well not to go into detail but that is my father epitomized in verse. 8. Sugarland—They are becoming one of my favorite bands. LOL I heard them discussing how people have come out of the woodwork to be their friends since they’ve hit it big. And a guy in the band, said in response to everyone having that happen, Yeah but we’re the only ones who discuss sending relatives money in a song. They are talking about Baby Girl, their first single. They are another band, I’ve enjoyed most everything they’ve done. 9. Blake Shelton—Some of his songs make me laugh, like Some Beach and Hey Romeo. I haven’t gotten into his newer stuff but his voice will usually draw me in even to a song I don’t like. And any guy brave enough to do a cover of the Gambler and do it well, is quite a singer in my book. 10. Little Big Town—Love their name and love their sound. Bring it on home to Me is still something I turn up whenever it comes on. 11. Darryl Worley—Awful Beautiful Life says so much about the way life is. It’s awful sometimes but yet can be so lovely. You can’t really smile until you’ve shed some tears. I just came home from the War is a powerful song about how war does change a person. 12. Phil Vasssr—a piano man in a guitar town *G*. And he’s a Virginia man. His older stuff has been my favorites, like I take that as a yes and Real Love. 13. Toby Keith—for some reason I’m not liking his newer stuff (Mmm seeing a theme). But his older stuff, yummmmm. Who’s your Daddy, I love this bar, I ain’t as Good as I once was, How do you like me now, Maintenance Man. Okay two newer songs made the list so maybe I do like his newer stuff, too... Oddly enough I discovered Toby through the parodies done of him by Cledus T. Judd LOL A few extras, Trace Adkins (enjoy most of his music), Reba McEntire (her older stuff), Dierks Bentley (what was I thinking), Martina McBride (Independence Day and My Baby loves me), Sara Evans (The suds in the bucket and Coalmine) Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen

Mel’s 13 favorite things to listen to I’m auditory person so sounds and noises are very important to me. 1. Little J cooing. I love for him to talk to me. 2. Nick telling a joke. He’s got a great sense of humor. 3. Rafe spinning a tall tale. Mercy…we do wonder where the youngest got his imagination. 4. The dh talking with the children in Spanish. 5. Music. I love music! 6. Megs interacting with J. She’s such a good mommy! 7. Talking to my friends on the phone. Debbie, Dana, Mo, and Sarah I loved our conversations. 8. My children laughing. I love to hear their happiness and amusement. 9. Alys on the telephone. She’s so grown up! 10. My mom talking. I love her slow southern draw. 11. My dad talking. He’s a man of few words so when he speaks we all listen. 12. The dh singing a Spanish lullaby to little J. Mercy…I just melt! 13. My dh using endearments. Doesn’t matter whether he’s talking to me or the children, his endearments are always in Spanish. Bonus: Rain. I love the sound of falling rain. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Banned Books week Sept 29-Oct 6th--Salem's Lot

When I was a senior (I think, either that or a junior) in high school, a complaint was lodged against a book in our school library. Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. And it was pulled.

Now, in a prior year, on a free pick book report, I did a report on this very book. So, it seemed silly to me to pull the book out the library, when I had read it at a younger age than I was when they banned it.

There were protests by students. A local book store gave away free copies of Salem’s Lot to anyone who wanted them from my hometown. But the book stayed out of the school library. I don’t know if Salem's Lot was ever put back.

It bothered me greatly then, and it bothers me greatly now. Our understanding was that one parent objected to it being available to their child. So a whole host of other children, who might have derived some enjoyment from reading it, were not allowed to do so. And several of us had read the book years before so it wasn't age inappropriate.

My hubby and I had a rousing discussion on challenged books Wednesday night because of all my blogging this week.

He asked me, “So if the oldest kidlet wants to read It (also by King) in 8th grade, are you going to let her?”

I thought about it a minute and then said, “Yes.”

LOL I think I surprised him. I followed it with, “I was in 9th grade when I read It.” And I read a whole host of Stephen King books earlier than that.

Yes, I still think of her as my little girl (same with the youngest), and it’s odd to think about what she’s ready to read and what she’s not, only to realize…there aren’t that many years between her age now and when I read things. I was reading Sydney Sheldon, Kathleen Woodiwiss, and Stephen King when I was in junior high school and maybe even before then.

She and I have many bridges to cross with books. Some I may wait on (like I did with Blubber by Judy Blume last year). Some I'm going to give her the go ahead, like the next Harry Potter book, which is now resting on her shelves, waiting for her to pick it up.

But just because I feel something isn’t appropriate for my child yet, it doesn’t mean I have to pull the book off a library shelf, whether school or public. It means I do my job as a parent, talk to my child about it, and figure out things with her.

Lany

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Challenged books I’ve read by Lany 1. The Harry Potter series. I’ve read them all. It still amazes me that people are trying to have them removed from libraries. Kids and adults love to read them and hey, reading is great. 2. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle I can’t believe this book is on the list! This book is one my favorites from childhood and I credit it with being a very early influence on my writing. I cannot wait until my girls show interest in reading it. I own my very own copy. 3. The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon & Beloved by Toni Morrison I read a lot of Toni Morrison in college. I remember her books at being poetic and wonderful, especially Beloved. 4. My Brother Sam is dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier I am very puzzled as to why this book. LOL to show you what a GEEK I am, I went on a field trip to Williamsburg, I think it was, and came back with this as a souvenir. 5 Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson I am not a big fan of this one, just read it actually. But the oldest kidlet really enjoyed it. 6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Not a Steinbeck fan but we had to read this in Honors English. Rather sad tragedy bound friendship. 7. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak this is a picture book. *blinks* I read it to the oldest kidlet a few years ago. The author also wrote “Where the Wild things are.” 8. anything by Judy Blume. Deenie, Are you there God it’s me, Margaret? Blubber, Tiger Eyes I was a huge Judy Blume fan. And I think she’s indispensable reading for kids growing up. 9. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This is the great American novel! I know many people cite it as their all time favorite. 10. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. This just blows me away. I still have the first copy I ever received. I reread this so many times, it’s falling apart. Cried at the end, too. 11. Anything by Stephen King. Cujo, Carrie, The Dead Zone. I am a Stephen King fan! And I read these three in middle school and early high school. 12. Lord of the Flies by William Golding I had to read this in 10th grade Honors English I think it was. Didn’t much like the book, but it’s quite the parable. 13. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. Sad sad sad book. Bonuses: Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan. Sort of a pubescent horror author. I remember this book in particular. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck, I read this in elementary school. The Color Purple by Alice Walker Read this in high school. What a moving story. All of these books are from the list of the most challenged books of 1990-2000. People are trying to ensure…no one reads these books from a library. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Banned Books week Sept 29-Oct 6th--Why does it matter?

Why does book challenging or book banning matter?

From the ALA: "Seventy-one percent of the challenges were to material in schools or school libraries. Another twenty-four percent were to material in public libraries (down two percent since 1999)."

The most popular reason, sexual explicitness. Oddly enough, of the challenges, the number challenging violence is less than half of the number challenging based on sex. Which is a rant for another day on how people twiddle their thumbs complaining about sex in media and look the other way when it comes to violence.

As a romance author, I can't help but look at this as a slippery slope. One day they challenge erotic romances or Sex by Madonna in the public library, the next they challenge Nora Roberts and Sherrilyn Kenyon, and then finally, Judy Blume and Toni Morrison in the middle and high school library.

Here's why this matters to every single individual:

We are a free society with freedom of speech.

Don't like something someone says? Don't listen. Don't like something someone wrote? Don't read it. Don't want your child to read book X? DON'T LET THEM READ IT. But don't pull the book out of the library, school or public, so that other children who might want to read Book X, can't.

There are books in my daughters's school library, I'm sure that they aren't ready for. But other kids in that school are ready to read them. Why am I going to pull those books out simply to appease me and my thinking?

Every time a book is challenged or banned, I believe we lose a little bit of our freedom. That's why this matters.

Tomorrow, I plan to blog about challenged books that I've read and on Friday, I want to share a personal experience. Yes, I've experienced book banning at the school library level. And the experience has stayed with me to this day.

Lany

Top 10 Most challenged books of 2006

"And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, for homosexuality, anti-family, and unsuited to age group;

“Gossip Girls” series by Cecily Von Ziegesar for homosexuality, sexual content, drugs, unsuited to age group, and offensive language;

“Alice” series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor for sexual content and offensive language;

“The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things” by Carolyn Mackler for sexual content, anti-family, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;

“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison for sexual content, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;

“Scary Stories” series by Alvin Schwartz for occult/Satanism, unsuited to age group, violence, and insensitivity;

“Athletic Shorts” by Chris Crutcher for homosexuality and offensive language;

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky for homosexuality, sexually explicit, offensive language, and unsuited to age group;

“Beloved” by Toni Morrison for offensive language, sexual content, and unsuited to age group;

“The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier for sexual content, offensive language, and violence.

Go out and read a BANNED BOOK today.

Lany