Top 10 Tuesday

1. Matilda--We have recently passed Matilda's 30-year anniversary (I mentioned this last week). What little girl didn't have an affinity for Roald Dahl's quick-witted, book-devouring, redemptive Matilda? Remember Mara Wilson--the blunt-banged little girl who played Matilda in the 1996 film based off the book? Well, 30 years later, she looks exactly the same and is now a writer, among other things. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her article about where Matilda possibly would be at the age of 30. I'll admit, it was a joy to read about the many possibilities for a fictional woman during these times when many real women are feeling discouraged or silenced. When driving to work today, I was listening to Simon & Garfunkel's "El Condor Pasa" in which they sang, I'd rather be a hammer than a nail.

I'd rather be a hammer than a nail.

This line really struck me because it emphasizes not only the need for good infrastructure for ideas and policies that may need to change, but the absolute need for the blunt-force action that apparently needs to take place in order to create that good infrastructure.

Here's the Simon & Garfunkel song if you're not familiar with it. Love the mandolin.

2. The Botanical Bible--It's that time of the year where I buy a lot of books. I mean, I stand in line to buy the things, my heart pounding, my mind racing with the thought that I'll spend the evening with the book, learning its lore and knowledge. But then I go home, still have a ton of anxious energy, so I clean, stand in the kitchen eating a rice cake with peanut butter for dinner, walk the dogs, go for a run, and then when I *do* finally sit down to read, I'm too zoned so I watch mindless adult cartoons. I'm trying to slow down. Anyway, I bought this gorgeous book full of amazing watercolors, lithographs, diagrams, recipes, lore, history, information, and how-tos on all things botanical.

3. Sunday Slow-Down--Like I said, I'm trying to "slow down" a little and foster the part of me that isn't manically go-go-going. I'm not much of an NFL fan (although I'm rooting for The Browns just for peoples' reactions and to support the underdog) and Brian is, so when he's watching his games on Sunday, I've been going to the book store and catching up on some reading and whatnot. It's actually very nice. I miss it but I always get a guilt complex when it comes to enjoying myself by relaxing or indulging. Even though I'm not a mother carting my children everywhere and I have no obligation to cook meals or presently care for anyone but my dogs, I somehow am very busy and time flies.

4. Running in the rain--Even though the 10k trail run is in the past, I want to continue trail running and training. I prefer running in the woods. Or as Simon and Garfunkel would say, I'd rather be a forest than a street; I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet. Anyway, last Thursday, Silas and I went on a five mile trail run in the pouring rain. Watching him weaving in and out of the trail ahead of me, tongue hanging out, smiling, makes me very happy. And there's something about the way rain makes other aromas permeate the air. Sometimes I stopped to just take in the aromas with Silas. We were soaked and muddy. My running shoes smell disgusting. My right hip began to hurt and since then, I've been experiencing a strange vibration in my hip that lasts about five seconds. It happens dozens of times a day. So, if you can diagnose me, that would be great (as long as it isn't MS or a desensitized nerve). Thanks.

5. Debussy's "Clair de Lune"--Speaking of relaxing. Pandora threw this old gem into the mix the other day and I've been listening to it on repeat a lot.

6. Human Induced Evolution/Unnatural Selection--I spent a little bit of time reading about this topic during one of my slow-down Sundays. I'm not going to go into minute detail because I'm not a biologist, but here are a few quirky facts about it and some examples of how us humans have influenced the evolution/biological changes in the flora and fauna around us:

• The size of the holes in salmon nets allow for smaller salmon to escape and therefore pass down their "small salmon" gene.

• Many animals, like elephants, are becoming nocturnal in order to avoid humans.

• Speaking of elephants, some are now no longer growing tusks due to humans poaching for ivory.

• Many of those pesky weeds are evolving (from leaf shape, to leaf waxiness, to protein structure) so that they are not deterred by our poisons and trampling. Many insects, parasites, and rodents do this too.

• And keep in mind, there is something called "viral evolution". This means that science can't keep up with curing viruses (like HIV) because their evolution is taking place too quickly.

7. Dork--Ever hear of the word "factoid"? Many people believe that the word "factoid" means a little, useless fact. It actually means the opposite. It means "untrue fact". Many people--including myself--have been spreading the factoid around that the word "dork" means a whale's penis. Well, that is not the case. Read here for more.

8. Dolly Sods--So, I heard about Dolly Sods Wilderness a few years ago when I saw gorgeous photographs of its big, stunning sky and colorful flora. Its gray/white boulders against an outcrop of blue sky and red bogs. I had to go there. Well, I finally went on Saturday with Brian, Silas, my friend Maddie, and her parents and it was absolutely gorgeous. Over 4,000 feet in elevation, it is the highest plateau east of the Mississippi River. It was very wet, very muddy, and very gorgeous. Next time I go back, I want to explore it more and possibly backpack it with my dog. It has a fascinating history and even I want to know more about it. Next year can't come soon enough.

9. Lang's Little Terrors--My lovely friend Jeanette is a crafty witch. Every time I am at her house, she is knitting or creating something uniquely creepy. She recently sold many of her little (and very affordable!) terrors at the Zombie Fest that took place in downtown Altoona, but that doesn't mean she's finished. She has a Halloween soul and can spookily delight you with her knitted creations and even her writing. Check out some of her stuff and go "like" Lang's Little Terrors on Facebook!

(This is Green Boots, the zombie doll she made for me to take on adventures)

(This is one of the crowns she made me after I bitched about not having anything blaze orange to wear while hiking during hunting season She's the best.)

10. Lomography Instant Camera--So, for the past month I have been on a hunt for a new instant camera. The Polaroid has made its comeback but the film is still too expensive for my taste. I looked at the Instax cameras several times, but would end up leaving the stores empty-handed. I waited it out, hoping to find a good deal soon. Finally, while I was browsing the 75% off section at Barnes and Noble, I came across what would become my new instant camera. I got it for $22 and the film is not nearly as expensive as Polaroid. I broke it in when I went to Dolly Sods Wilderness and took some very overexposed pictures that gave off a neat, creepy, October-appropriate vibe. I'm digging it and look forward to sharing my photographs with people, especially after I further acquaint myself with the camera's interesting capabilities (stacking images, slower shutter speed, etc).