Posted in A&I

February in the Library

by Anne Newins

Library Volunteer Debbie Adler, a fan of women of fortitude and perseverance, created February’s book display topic which features both fictional and nonfictional women. Volunteers Liz Caldwell and Bonny Turner also made suggestions.  The books include many undaunted women, including pilots, detectives, explorers, anthropologists, scientists, librarians, public figures, code breakers as well as ordinary women thrust into difficult circumstances. 

*The Maisie Dobbs books by Jacqueline Winspear
*The Number One Detective Agency, featuring Precious Ramwotse, series by Alexander McCall Smith
*Island of Sea Women, by Lisa See, introduces the fierce female divers of Jeju Island, South Korea.
*The Four Winds, by Kristin Hannah, set in California and Texas, is a portrait of an indomitable woman who will do anything to keep her family together during the Great Depression.
*The Diamond Eye, by Kate Quinn, tells of a quiet bookworm who becomes history’s deadliest sniper during World War II.  It is based on a true story.  Debbie recommended another Kate Quinn novel, The Huntress, which also is World War II saga. The heroine is part of an all-female bomber regiment.
*Miss Benson’s Beetle, by Rachel Joyce, is a quirky book taking place in New Caledonia during the 1950’s.  Miss Benson decides to leave her dead-end job to help search for a beetle that may or may not exist.
The non-fiction books portray the lives of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Beryl Markham, Sonia Purnell, Cheryl Strayed, Michelle Obama, Gertrude Bell, and many others.
We would like to highlight a RVM resident, Maria-Cristina Page, a woman who also forged ahead.  Her many accomplishments began early in life.  A native of Cochabamba, Bolivia, Maria-Cristina decided to become one of the few women to study architecture at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellin, Colombia during the 1960’s.  Getting there began with a four day bus ride in torrential rain.  When the buses could go no further, she rode to Lima, Peru on the back of a truck, finally reaching Medellin by air.  She was the only woman riding the buses and truck, as well as the youngest.
Graduating with only five other women, Maria-Cristina was the first woman architect in Cochabamba, as well as the first female Professor of Architecture at Cochabamba’s Universidad de San Simon.  She is pictured below.

 

 

Language Fun: Time

by Connie Kent

We spend time. We save it (to spend later?) We need more. We take time (without permission?) We make time. Some people do time.

We fill time. We squander it. We use our time. We pass the time. We’re ahead of time. We’re behind time. We don’t have enough time. We run out of time.

🎵 Time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much. 🎵

The time has come. Time passes. Time flies. Time slows down. Time drags. 

Time runs out. Time is up. The time is past. The time is upon us. Time stops. The time is now.

NIT WIT NEWZ — February 2023

(Nit Wit Newz is an unauthorized, often unreliable, on-line news source designed to keep Manor residents abreast of the inconsequential, trifling, and superficial events that dramatically shape and inform our everyday lives here at Rogue Valley Manor.)

 

NIT WIT NEWZ’ LAUNCH OF SWIMSUIT ISSUE AXED

Negotiations for joint promotion with Manor water volleyball team collapse, reports NWN’s Water Sports journalist, Phil dePoole.  The widely anticipated April issue of Nit Wit Newz was to feature latest 2023 senior men and women’s stylish, swimwear fashions modeled by volleyball team members.

Revelation of “meager” NWN modeling fees rankle aquatic squad.  Team backs out of promotional effort.  Alternative plan developed. New promotional plan excludes Nit Wit Newz (Editorial Board irked).

Swim team producing a 2023 “Co-ed Swim Suit Calendar.”  Different team member to be featured each month in latest swimwear styles.  Competition intense among team members for twelve monthly photo slots since team membership totals over two dozen players.  Bruised feelings likely.  Independent judging sought.  RVM residents, administration, and staff demur from hyper-sensitive task of selecting twelve finalists.  Off-campus search for impartial (and impervious) judges proceeding apace.

Water sport members expect calendar sales to generate substantial revenue.  Proceeds to underwrite installation of bleachers in Manor aquatic center.  Seating needed to accommodate burgeoning fan interest in exciting water volleyball matches.  Admission fees promised to be modest.  Net Wit Newz charges aquatic group with “Crass monetizing of sport.”  Members shrug off criticism as “disgruntled grousing.”

Campus Manor Mart store to be sole retailer of swimsuit calendar. RVM retailer currently accepting pre-publication orders for this coveted “collector’s item.”

As water volleyball fever sweeps campus, anticipation that calendar sales may go viral swells. Forward thinking Manor Mart retailer ordering “RVM WATER V-BALL TEAM” imprinted merchandise on caps, t-shirts, and hoodies.

Don’t be left out, pre-order your V-ball gear with your calendar, today.

 

—A. Looney

Language Fun: Oxymorons

 

Tales to Make your Tail Wag – January in the Library

Retired librarian and bibliographer Janice Williams created a list of books featuring dogs for this month’s display table.  Our furry friends are warm and devoted company during these chilly months and deserve recognition.

Some dogs might like to have someone read to them—check out recent rescue pooch “Niner” in the picture below with Paul Schettler, who is a dedicated volunteer at the Jackson County Animal Shelter.

Niner has a variety books to choose from, including both fiction and non-fiction books.  A few examples include:

Irresistible Titles:

Paw and Order and The Dog Who Knew Too Much, by Spencer Quinn

The Dog Who Came in From the Cold, by Alexander McCall Smith

Live and Let Growl, by Laurie’s Berenson

Classics:

The Call of the Wild and White Fang, by Jack London

Mysteries:

Wolves Eat Dogs, by Martin Cruz Smith

The Dogs of Riga, by Henning Markell

Feel Good Books:

The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein

Barcelona Calling, by Jane Kirkpatrick

Non-Fiction:

The Hidden Life of Dogs, by Elizabeth Thomas

Hero Dogs, by Wilma Melville

Happy tales from your library volunteers in 2023!

Nit Wit Newz — January 2023

 

                                                NEWZ’S BURNING ISSUE FIZZLES

 

(Nit Wit Newz is an unauthorized, often unreliable, on-line news source designed to keep Manor residents abreast of the inconsequential, trifling and superficial events that dramatically shape and inform our everyday lives at Rogue Valley Manor).

 

Close readers of Nit Wit Newz will recall in last month’s December issue of The Complement, our column featured a letter from resident, Holly Day. Ms. Day passionately—and we thought persuasively— advocated the conversion of the Manor fireplace from the unseemly, year-long, roasting of marbles to the more traditional fireplace use—burning logs (be they real or facsimiles), at least during the holiday season.

Nit Wit Newz enthusiastically endorsed Ms. Day’s view. We too, thought that the odd marble roasting display made little sense aesthetically or practically.

In an effort to confront the proper administration and resident authorities with compelling evidence that Manor residents also support such a change, NWN confidently solicited the views of RVM residents’ on this fireplace issue. They were asked to vote “yes” (agreeing with Ms. Day on a change) or “No” (voting for the status quo on the marble-simmering fireplace).

As the early votes began to cascade into our massive Dominion vote-tabulating computer, it became clear that we were not only facing a record-setting volume of voting, there was a strong trend indicating that residents were disinterested in converting the Manor fireplace to log burning.

Disbelief swept over our NWN staff.  A laborious, hand-tabulation of ballots was ordered.  Shockingly, the alarming trend was confirmed. The re-count tabulation of all seven ballots cast revealed a scant 14.3% of voters (that would be just one vote) endorsed the “Holly Day/NWN” fireplace revision initiative.

Yes, the full-throated advocacy of the fireplace revision by Nit Wit Newz was met with an enthusiastic burst of resident indifference.

Comments among the six voters that were just fine with the marble-laden fireplace ranged from:  not worth the cost to change to logs; the real Manor lobby problem was not the fireplace, but that (oft-maligned) carpeting; there should be seating in front of those glowing marbles; to, if you want a log burning fireplace go to the Manor library.

Vox populi! The people have spoken.

Clearly, RVM residents are content each year to continue dreaming of their “Blue Marble Christmas.”

What also became all-too-clear was—Nit Wit Newz’s well-earned reputation as an essential conduit between Manor residents and the power centers of Rogue Valley Manor had now been placed in jeopardy.

No small amount of wound licking followed in the well-decked halls of the Nit Wit Newz Tower.

Bruised but unbowed, our chastened staff found comfort during the holidays huddled around the Manor library’s log fireplace musing over Lily Tomlin’s observation:

“The road to success is always under construction.”

We have chosen to view the failed Manor fireplace initiative as just another pot hole in our continuing efforts to help Rogue Valley Manor realize its full potential as America’s premier Senior Community.

We soldier on.

A Happy New Year to all.

 

—A. Looney

Book Review – Daisy Darker

by Bonnie Tollefson

Book Review – Daisy Darker, Alice Feeney, Flatiron Books, 2022.

There are only so many plot lines in fiction writing, and when I picked up this book I was expecting the tried and true. Gather people in a remote location, cut off communication, cue terror.

Daisy Darker starts out conforming to the expected. The Darker Family puts the “dys” in dysfunctional. Nana has gathered her family to celebrate her 80th birthday. A fortune teller has told her it will be her last so she has drawn up her will. She shares its contents, making everyone mad in the process.

Her son is never home as he roams the world performing with his orchestra. His ex-wife, a failed actress, wants her grown daughters to call her Nancy since Mom makes her feel old. The three daughters, Rose, Lily and Daisy, demonstrate an amazing amount of sibling rivalry. Lily’s daughter, Trixie, and family friend, Conor, round out the party.

Nana lives on an island off the Cornwall coast. It is connected to the mainland by a causeway passable only by foot at low tide. After dinner, as might be expected, the tide comes in, trapping everyone until morning. It was a dark and stormy night. Cell phone service is nonexistent and Nana has stopped paying her land line bill because the thing kept ringing and interrupting her. Nana’s 80 clocks strike midnight. A scream pierces the air. The first body is discovered…

The author uses the device of VHS tapes of home movies to bring family memories of the past to light. She is, also, not above the occasional snarky comment on life as she moves the action right along to the final twist and the last body. You won’t want to put it down.

This book is available thru the RVM library as well as from the Jackson County Library System.

NIT WIT NEWZ December 2022

NIT WIT NEWZ 

(Nit Wit Newz is an unauthorized, often unreliable, on-line news source designed to keep Manor residents abreast of the inconsequential, trifling, and superficial events that dramatically shape and inform our everyday lives at Rogue Valley Manor).    

 

NEWZ TAKES ON BURNING ISSUE

Each week dozens of letters from our readers flood into our offices here in the Nit Wit Newz Tower on the RVM campus. Many seeking help in all manner of personal affairs; many concerning life here at RVM.  From time to time, we find a letter that might be of interest to all of our RVM readers. Here is one:

Dear Nit Wit Newz,

The Christmas holidays are now upon us and I would like to salute those responsible for the lovely decorations in the Manor lobby. The conifer tree, the decorative wreaths, the white poinsettia plants, the “ginger bread” castle displays, and, of course, the out-sized St. Nicholas figure, all contribute to make our holidays bright.

There is, however, one unsettling false note in this otherwise joyful setting. While the rest of the world is “roasting chestnuts on an open fire,” we here at Rogue Valley Manor must settle, in our Manor fireplace, for a couple of dozen flaming marbles that change colors every once in a while.

Chestnut-roasting may have seen its day, but those same “open fires” elsewhere are now graced with burning logs or, more practically these days, realistic ceramic logs warmed by a natural gas fire.

In the past several Christmas seasons, since our new Manor fireplace was installed, I have yet to see a resident, or guest, warming their backsides against those glowing marbles.  Most of us, I would guess, try our best to avoid looking foolish.

Perhaps I’m overly nostalgic, but to me, there’s something comforting, even pleasingly hypnotic, about sitting in front of a fireplace and staring into a set of flame-licking logs.  I feel certain that others here at RVM share that same feeling. Oddly, not only does our two-sided, island fireplace lack logs of any kind, it also is absent seating.

Since our fireplace is fitted for gas, it would seem to be a simple conversion to add a grate and toss a few ceramic logs on our fireplace during the winter season.  And, while we’re at it, let’s place some seating in front of that cozy fire.

Since Nit Wit Newz holds enviable sway among the influential and powerful here at RVM, may we enlist your aid in helping to effect a change in the Manor fireplace area?

Thank you,

Holly Day

(The NIT WIT NEWZ response)

Dear Ms. Day,

We here at Nit Wit Newz also suspect that many of our residents share your views on the Manor fireplace.   It is unlikely that our current lobby fireplace jingles anyone’s holiday bells.

Yule logs, yes; yule marbles? Not so much.

So, yes, Nit Wit Newz willingly rises to the challenge of re-configuring that flame-burning marble unit to a more traditional fireplace, at least for the winter season.

Our plan is to gather data-driven facts so that we can present an impenetrable case to the proper Manor authorities.

Towards that end, we are asking readers of The Complement to register their opinion on the subject.

It’s simple: Immediately below this text you are reading, there are the words “Leave a Reply.”   We urge you to register your opinion on Ms. Day’s fireplace issue; merely type in your preference “Yes” or “No.”

A “Yes” vote =”Let’s lose our marbles.”

A “No” vote = Call me a Marblehead, but let those darling, inanimate orbs continue to languish on the fireplace floor all year long.

Note: The “ballot” below requires you to leave your name. Be assured your name will NEVER be otherwise used or circulated by “The Complement” or by Nit Wit Newz.  Its inclusion merely allows us to discourage duplicate votes by the same overly enthusiastic voting person.  Thank you for your participation in our survey.

 

Survey results?

Watch this space.

 

—A. Looney 

December in the Library

by Anne Newins

December can be a busy month as residents shop, visit with friends, and eat shamelessly.  But, if you have a chance to put your feet up, you first might want to stop by and pick up a book from the December book display.  All of this month’s books incorporate holidays or snow as their subjects.

Bert Bamforth checking out the December display

Looking for a cozy, feel-good experience?  You might enjoy books by Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, or Dorothea Frank Benton.
Many best seller authors write seasonal or Christmas novels, such as John Grisham, David Baldacci, Frederick Backman, and Diana Gabaldon.  Popular mystery writers including Anne Perry, Janet Evanovich, and even Agatha Christie have published holiday books.
Tired of all this cheer? Included are books that have “snow” in their titles or are about snow, but may not be holiday tales.  Several of these might appeal to those of us who like Scandinoir—gritty detective stories that take place in Scandinavia or Iceland.  These often incorporate snowy weather as part their plots, such as Snowblind, by Jo Nesbo, which incorporates both blizzards and Christmas in the plot.  Books by Nele Neuhaus and Ragnar Jonasson also are available.
The Manor Library volunteers wish you happy holidays and a year full of good books to read in 2023.

Language Fun: Adjectives in English

by Connie Kent

Adjectives in English absolutely have to be in this order: opinion-size-quality-age-shape-color-origin-material-purpose Noun.

So you can have a lovely large ornate old rectangular green French serving platter. But if you mess with that word order in the slightest you’ll sound like a maniac. It’s an odd thing that every English speaker uses that list, but almost none of us could write it out.