The 2005 Reading List

Posted by Bob Greenberger on December 31, 2005

For the second year in a row, I finished the year with 70 books read. In analyzing them, oh so briefly, 20-25% of them are Star Trek related, down a bit from last year, reflecting the change in Pocket’s publishing program. A higher than usual number, some 7 or 8 books, actually appeared on the Times best seller list, either in 2004 or 2005. My pal Keith DeCandido is tied with Robert B. Parker as the most read author with three books apiece (Keith edges Parker by editing two anthologies I also read). Since I like to sample new stuff, I was exposed to at least 21 authors for the first time not counting writers who appeared in some of the anthologies. The most entertaining surprise offering may well be Me and Orson Welles, a slim but engaging novel by Robert Kaplow.

This, of course, is coupled with the 100+ comic books each month plus regular issues of Time, The Week, Entertainment Weekly, Smithsonian, Premiere, Hollywood Life, Starlog, CFQ, Alter Ego, Back Issue, Comic Buyers’ Guide, Wizard and odd issues of other titles. The day also starts off with the Connecticut Post and USA Today plus bits and pieces from the Times and then there’s the material I have to read as part of the job. Therefore, I am happily exposed to many wonderful ideas, notions and nuggets of information and the good news is, I still have my I want to learn or be exposed to.

For those interested, the full list of titles is behind the cut:

WAIT! There is more to read… read on »

Winter Cleaning

Posted by Bob Greenberger on December 30, 2005

Normally, taking time off between Christmas and New Year’s works for a lot of people. I, instead, prefer coming in and using the downtime to get things cleaned and organized. Just as I spent two days getting my home office shipshape, we spent yesterday cleaning our common collection of titles, which had managed to sprawl all over the area. With our department scheduled to move to another floor in the spring, now was a good time to get things organized, inventoried and sorted. This way, excess copies of titles could be returned to the Diamond warehouses and we could see what’s left and determine what best could be done.

This morning, as I finished taping and labeling the boxes, our area looked much better. And now there’s far less to box and move in the months ahead.

However, even though we’re in only three days this week, the week hasn’t slowed down as it has in the past. We closed out one book for Hong Kong, I prepped text for another, reviewed unbound sections to OK for the bindery, checked design pages for yet another title and received stats for another Showcase title which need to be checked in and then proofed (fortunately, it’s running a bit early). With luck, I’ll finish proofing the final stats for the previous month’s title this morning and can start on the next one in the New Year.

It’s certainly been a week of catch-up both at home and at work. A good feeling and a nice way to wind down 2005.

We’ve also been catching up on our movies. On Monday, we saw The Family Stone which I liked much more than I expected to. While predominately a drama, like real life, it had its moments of humor. The director and cast did a marvelous job conveying the sense of uncomfortable embarrassment as Sarah Jessica Parker tried to make nice to her prospective in-laws. It is very well cast and the ensemble did well together, headed by the superb Diane Keaton, who is ably supported in an understated way by Craig T. Nelson. While some of the characters are very underdeveloped, the story moves nicely and ends as expected.

Wednesday night, schedules fell in such a way that I wound up accompanying Deb and Katie to see Pride & Prejudice. While I like Keira Knightley the actress, I’m not especially enamored of Jane Austen’s work. Heck, I don’t think I’ve seen the entirety of the much beloved BBC miniseries with Colin Firth. Still, the current film got such nice notices that I figured it was worth checking out. It certainly had a cast of actors I enjoyed from Donald Sutherland to Jena Malone. The movie was very faithful, if abbreviated, according to the women. The story moved nicely and it was certainly a more accurate portrayal of the Bennett family circumstances than previous incarnations. All in all it was a pleasant way to spend an evening. As the credits rolled, the man behind us muttered, “It was a chick flick!” Well, yeah, didn’t you know that coming in?

The Winter Clearance

Posted by Bob Greenberger on December 26, 2005

It was as good as advertised.

We woke up Christmas morning, groggy but happy. Everyone showered and dressed, grabbing some breakfast and then they were off to sing at the 10 a.m. mass. I took care of stuff around the house until they returned.

We took turns opening the presents and everyone was incredibly pleased with their gifts. Kate gushed over the Harry Potter messenger bag she has coveted but then was absolutely floored when she received the handmade duffel for her dancing gear. Deb had bought the fabric while we were on vacation last August and then spent three weekends in December turning fabric into a work of art. The bag is more than sufficient to hold three pairs of shoes and various outfits with room to spare. We hope its durable and it certainly will be cherished. Robbie was equally thrilled with his manga, his PS2 game, his Sodoku-a-day calendar and most of all, we think, his Central Connecticut sweatshirt.

Deb enjoyed her Astaire/Rogers DVD box set and giggled over season one of Remington Steele where she first swooned over Pierce Brosnan. Her knitting books were also well received.

And me? I got a cashmere sweater, some new shirts, the latest Bonnie Raitt cd, new headphones for iPod and a book, Everything Bad is Good for You. Oh, and new gray sox which were much needed.

The afternoon passed as we enjoyed our gifts, ate crudités and Hershey kisses (the new caramel, peanut butter and cheery cream ones). We all helped prep dinner and as usual, the oven beat the estimates and the goose was early. We sat around 2:30-3 p.m. and feasted quite merrily. After the cleanup, we indulged in two games of Scene It, which I was given last January and had yet to play. Deb won the first round, I took the second and Robbie has learned he needs to see more movies.

We ate dessert as I read; he played on the PS2 and the women knit. The afternoon passed into evening and everyone was relatively relaxed.

Until I got fidgety. I was done reading, our family rule was no TV on Christmas so I needed to do something. So, I headed to the basement and started moving hardcovers and trade paperback collections from my office to the work table. And I kept moving them since; one of my end-of-the-year goals was to get that stuff organized and take advantage of having recently cleared out many shelves.

Today, after a somewhat lazy morning, I returned to the basement and went at it. Some five hours later, I now have neatly organized books, ready to be boxed and shelved. I also have a large stack of duplicate books or unwanted titles (given space considerations) and need to figure out what to do with them. However, for the first time in a decade, the floor of my office is clear, things have been dusted and vacuumed and I’m just a wee bit tired. Still I was most productive and useful and it was probably better to blitz it all in one day than drag it out over a week. Tomorrow the desk gets some attention and then the gutters and finally time to write.

And how did Santa treat you?

Merry Christmas

Posted by Bob Greenberger on December 25, 2005

DC Comics closed at 1 on Friday and that kicked off the holiday weekend very nicely. Deb and I grabbed a train home at 2 and when we arrived, we went straight to the gym. After that, I collected Kate, hit the comic shop and then the supermarket, intending to minimizing the following day’s running around. Deb began baking right after dinner so I was on call as either sous-chef or dishwasher. By the time we collapsed into bed, we had a batch of cookies done, a cake for dessert and ingredients reading to become stuffing.

On Saturday, we were up and moving on the early side. We made some quick stops and then returned home to keep going. The stuffing took shape, I made two batches of cookies, the kids did whatever errands were required and holiday music filled the house. Everyone was in high spirits, as it should be.

By 2, everything was in terrific shape so I took the kids to go see King Kong. We had wanted to see this on Monday but our Cablevision installer screwed that plan. Anyway, the theatre was only partially full as people seemed to have others things to do. A movie on the Eve has become a bit of a tradition for us. In the past, when Robbie was younger, he couldn’t contain himself with the anticipation and excitement of Christmas Eve – it meant he could open presents from out of town family. When they were much younger, we took them to the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve mass which killed some time and then we got home, made dinner and kept him occupied. As they got older and switched to the Vigil, we had all afternoon to preoccupy him and so the movies began.

Kong is everything the reviewers and bloggers say it is. All three of us were transfixed by the sumptuous imagery and terrific storytelling. Not all the CGI effects were perfect, but I was stunned by how real Kong seemed. More than that, he was given a real distinct look and personality. I especially liked how expressive his eyes were and how much emotion was conveyed throughout. Jackson and his cowriters wisely set up the characters and situation so once the action started, we knew who to root for and who to feel sorry for when they died or were injured. Naomi Watts was simply amazing. To pull off the romance with Kong considering she was acting against a green screen was a testament to her skills. The middle third was breathless and Kate complained she forgot to blink causing her contacts to dry out. And the ending was a little drawn out but also quite effective. (I have a fear of heights and this is the first time a movie triggered that response in me.) All three of us walked out of there very, very happy.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

We got home and immediately got into high gear. Robbie worked on our traditional dinner of pasta and shrimp; I tossed together a salad while finishing with a batch of cookies. Within forty minutes of walking in the door, we were seated to dinner.

Afterwards, we did a swift, efficient cleanup and then it was to the tree. Since we see most of Deb’s siblings at a family party in a few weeks, the tree looked a little spare with just presents from my family. Still, he was practically vibrating.

Fortunately, he got what he wanted most: the Chronicles of Narnia for the PS2. Kate delighted in receiving The Goblet of Fire in French and Deb loved the antique travel poster calendar from Kate. Robbie gave me the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack and Kate happily presented me with the 30th anniversary edition of Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run.

He tore downstairs to play. Deb and Kate went to get ready for mass. I did as I had hoped; start digging through some of the magazine backlog. This seems to be the time of year with a little extra off time so I enjoy getting caught up on magazines or even graphic novels that have sat on the pile for months.

Around 10:15 we headed off to the church. Kate was to cantor the mass, a high honor, while Robbie volunteered to Altar Serve to be with her. Deb remained in the choir loft as usual. I took a pew behind friends and listened. When she took her place and began singing to start the mass, I had an idiot grin on my face. I took such pride in her accomplishments and didn’t miss a note. Later, a friend mentioned that she saw the grin throughout the mass and thought “it was cute.” Four of her friends (a catholic, a Jew, an atheist, and an agnostic, something for everyone) turned up to see her and she was gratified by the support.

Lectoring was her long time classmate and part-time rival Justin. Kate and Justin have been in some form of competition since middle school when they fought for first chair viola. They also started altar serving together in fourth grade and were frequently paired through the years. Here they were, thirteen years later, still active in the Church and side-by-side, doing the parts reserved for adults. I marveled at how things have progressed.

We got home just after 12:30 a.m. and the kids rushed to bed as Deb and I got the living room ready for Santa’s arrival. They are currently at church, singing in the choir for the 10 a.m. mass. To allow everyone some sleep, we carefully negotiated with Robbie that presents would be delayed until they got home so we enjoy them without the clock pressuring anyone.

Once they return, it’ll be presents and then just the four of us, which is a first. Also, for a first, we’re attempting a Christmas Goose which should be interesting. As Deb put it, either good or bad, it’ll be a memorable day. We’ll have some finger foods for lunch and then some games and then the goose with the trimmings and probably more games or fun as day turns to night.

May this day bring you everything you want, especially peace and the enjoyment of one another’s company.

The Transit Strike

Posted by Bob Greenberger on December 22, 2005

For those who have asked, the transit strike has not affected my life at all. Metro North form Connecticut zips right into Grand Central and I walk to the DC offices as usual. If anything, the trains are a little emptier as people work from home or start their holidays early.

I do see the streets being a little less crowded and several businesses are either closed or closing early as their employees struggle to commute. Here at the office, most of the staff managed to get in. An informal survey yesterday showed people staying with relatives, riding their bicycles or walking with one, my old colleague Jermaine McLaughlin, logging a twelve-mile stroll to the office.

I just had a spirited discussion with a few of my teammates as one took the side of the union and I took the side of the commuter. It was a fascinating debate as we could look at the situation from very different points of views.

When Roger Toussaint, the union president, appears in court today, the results should be interesting.

Actually, it’s a good week to be Judge Jones. First, Judge John Jones in Pennsylvania issued a lucid ruling in the Pennsylvania Intelligent Design case and now Judge Theodore Jones isn’t letting the union defy the court without repercussions.

Monday’s RTM Meeting

Posted by Bob Greenberger on December 20, 2005

OK, this may not be so bad.

Last night’s RTM meeting could have been ugly but it wasn’t. In fact, it ended earlier than expected and was far less contentious than anticipated.

A good portion of the Agenda was confirming appointments to a variety of town boards. It’s nice to see so many people volunteer to serve on these various committees and commissions. On the other hand, we have an awful lot of committees and commissions so I wonder how much overlap might exist. Food for thought.

Our big item for discussion was the $2.1 million to complete renovations on our oldest middle school. It’s a long, sordid story but basically, they spent lots of money repairing things they never anticipated when the work began. About $1.4 million was already committed to pure construction issues. The balance was for the so-called Day Two list, an itemized wish list of maintenance issues and new furniture and equipment that was not in the original budget. Some of this meant painting walls or buying ergonomic chairs for the media center. A big item was refinishing the gym floor and replacing wall padding. At the committee meetings last week, we were told the gym floor hadn’t been properly tended to in well over a decade and was considered unsafe.

A member of my Finance Committee last week talked about eliminating the Day Two list and I thought we discussed it and talked him out of it. Instead, he stood at the mike last night and wanted to reduce the funding by the exact amount of the Day Two list. And so we spent about an hour hashing this out. The Young Republican, who seconded it, felt the topic was worth a discussion and he wanted to hear people’s thoughts. Financially, by doing it now, much of it was going to be eligible for state reimbursements – should we wait until the 2006-2007 budget, none of it would be eligible. So right there, we’re trying to be fiscally prudent. I got up and spoke about not penalizing students and faculty for the lack of proper maintenance under previous management. Delay funding, we delay fixing a glaring problem.

In the end, his amendment was defeated and the funding was passed. Not everyone was happy with the way things turned out on this project and some lessons were learned (I hope). Still, funding this last piece means the school will meet its education specs and be on a par with the other two middle schools in town so that’s important.

The next big item was agreeing to a new contract with Cingular/ATT for a cell tower lease. Eileen, our Assistant Town Attorney asked us to take no action last week, feeling she could get a better deal. Sure enough, she arrived last night with a new deal that would net the town more money. It did mean, though, the resolution, as written, needed to be amended. I volunteered to handle that step and Eileen wrote it out for me. I figured if the party is asking me to step up my involvement, then I would do what I could to keep things moving. Of course it passed.

Once we approved a new lease for a farm in town, we were done at 10:15. We all then headed over, Republicans and Democrats alike, to the Angus for a “socialable soda.” We mixed well and I got to talk to some of the new members, getting to know them. I also chatted up our Town Clerk, the Assistant Town Clerk and members from my team. All in all, very pleasant. Robbie finished closing up at Cold Stone so dropped by to see what I do on my Monday nights. He chatted with some people until I shooed him home, since, after all, it was a school night.

I dragged myself home somewhat later but thought it was a night well spent on behalf of the town.

Me and my Modem

Posted by Bob Greenberger on December 19, 2005

No wonder Cablevision is number six.

And yet, we keep giving them money for services.

Those keeping track know I am awaiting a reply from the President of the company regarding their ala carte plans. Meantime, in October, Deb gifted me with a Cablevision-branded DVR which we have come to know and love.

Last week, Deb does some snooping around and figures out those international calls (say to Egypt) are substantially cheaper via Optimum Voice. The line itself, is also cheaper given our being cable and online subscribers. So, we order Voice, switching Deb’s office line from SBC to Optimum.

The gent arrived this morning within his window, so far so good. He looked above the basement drop ceiling, traced some of the cables and made a good effort but ultimately decided he’d need to do this from the outside. He dutifully wraps a connection around the house, drills a small hole in an outside wall and connects Deb’s phone to a new voice modem.

Except, Deb wanted it hooked to a phone jack connected to the existing cable modem, cutting down on wires and pieces of hardware. The gent, who’s pretty good natured, says it can’t be done and leaves. Deb is not thrilled, since the website swears it can be done. She calls customer service; they agree and swear they’ll send the man back. I receive a call at 11:48 saying he’d be there in 40 minutes.

Just after 2:15, I call to find out where he is. I’m dutifully informed the service call had been canceled. I ask them to explain this. After some investigating, it appears that the woman who called to confirm the 40 minutes had not really spoken to tech. She guessed. And when the tech hadn’t called in by 1, she went ahead and closed the job ticket. The tech, I was then told, could return between 2 and 6. This was pretty much when the kids and I had planned to go see King Kong.

So, not wanting to disappoint the kids, we rescheduled for Friday. Just as I was preparing to leave, the cable tech returns. No one told him the ticket had been either canceled or rescheduled. He had run behind on his previous calls. This means he’s here, as I write, doing the work the way the Mrs. wants it, yet it also means we’re not seeing Kong today since Robbie has work and I have the RTM tonight.

While I dislike Cablevision, I find myself giving them more money and intertwining them more in my day-to-day life. Sigh.

The Week

Posted by Bob Greenberger on December 18, 2005

Sorry I haven’t posted in a bit. There are just some weeks you’d rather have the ability to call a do-over.

While scheduled to take Monday and Tuesday as vacation days, I promised I’d check the office e-mail to make sure things were running on smoothly on my books. One in particular is due to close this week and there were still pieces missing that were due. Anyway, I checked in on Sunday and discovered two e-mails from colleagues pointing out glaring errors in just-released titles which sent my spirits and eel of self-worth crashing. You can imagine the loss of sleep, preoccupation with reviewing how things went awry and how to improve my personal systems to prevent things from repeating (I’ll say this; I have made mistakes at DC, but none twice.)

As a result, I was really in a bit of a fog the next two days, so even though I got all the wrapping of Christmas gifts and out-of-state shipping of same done, I wasn’t in the least bit feeling the holiday spirit. Fortunately, I shook off those feelings long enough to remain sharp at the Finance Committee meeting Monday night.

When I got to work Wednesday, that feeling really hadn’t let go and for the remainder of the week, I pretty much sat at my desk, concentrating on the work ahead of me, waiting for the slap on the wrist or the yelling or whatever. I’m still waiting, which only adds to the anxiety. Fortunately, my boss has been understanding and supportive of human error, and most of our conversations this week had been forward thinking.

Still, as Thursday wore on, I still wasn’t feeling festive or socialable so I finally chose to blow off a holiday party I had been looking forward to. Instead, I worked a bit late, then made some stops for additional presents we needed. One of those stops was at Best Buy where I had ordered something as a joint gift to the kids.

Friday, I arrived at work to find a voice mail from Best Buy indicating I had only picked up part of the order. I should stop by today and get the rest of it. OK, things happen, as if I didn’t already know. As the day wore on, I was starting to feel some of the frustration at myself start to dissipate. Deb also informed me that friends in town had invited to join them and their kids at “the club” for the annual holiday sing-a-long dinner. But it meant trying to get home a little early to change.

As I valiantly left work before 5 to catch the 5:23, I found myself standing in line at Best Buy. Finally, the sales woman from the night before took care of me, gave me the rest of the order – which upon examination proved I had gotten the wrong thing which meant I needed to reunite the order and return it – but by then, the train had left. So, I had to have Robbie leave his own party, to collect Deb while I took the following train.

At 7:15, we walked into the club, a mere 45 minutes late; but seeing the decorations, hearing the wonderful pianist effortlessly work his way through the holiday standards and everyone enjoying themselves, I was finally starting to feel better about the world. The food was sumptuous. We chatted with Caroline and Allison, whom we haven’t seen in a while, and discovered them possessed with wit and personality which made the evening nicer. When it was time to start singing carols, we all joined in. For the grand finale, each table was assigned one of the twelve days of Christmas. We were day three, you know, the French hens. I wondered aloud if we should be calling them “freedom” hens which got a laugh from one of the girls. As each table sang their part, most stood and acted in some way to represent the day. While the other three stood and flapped their arms like the dreaded “chicken dance,” the girls and I sat and simply sang. Still, everyone was feeling the spirit. Even me.

It feels things have turned a bit, for the better. Saturday, I discovered I lost a little weight, toured one of the middle schools which was the subject of a funding request to be voted on this week, and then enjoyed a two hour seminar about Parliamentary Procedure (most role playing to a script to walk us through the process rather than a dry lecture). And best of all, Kate came home. We get to enjoy her for four weeks and she was as happy to return. Last night we took in Narnia which they had read, and I had not, and it was a very entertaining night out. The CGI was terrific, Tilda Swinton was wonderful as the heavy once more, but I think the pacing needed some work. It definitely dragged in spots. And more Jim Broadbent was needed. You don’t hire someone of his skills and then barley use him.

Anyway, that’s what’s been going on.

Excellent News

Posted by Bob Greenberger on December 12, 2005

There’s such a thing known as anticipation. Carly Simon turned it into a top-selling song and Heinz co-opted it for an ad campaign extolling the virtues of their ketchup.

There’s such a thing known as rolling admissions, meaning colleges begin accepting students in the fall and all the way through the traditional early spring season.

In theory, rolling admissions cuts down on the long period of anticipation after applications are filed and acceptance letters are sent out.

Val, our wonderful mail carrier, delivered the mail about 11:15 this morning and buried in the stack was a letter for Robbie from Central Connecticut College. He was due home from school around 12:40. For well over an hour, I have sat here waiting for Robbie to come home so we can find out what the future holds.

And Carly sang in the background of my mind.

He came in the door and I handed over the letter, with Deb on the phone. He rips it open and then screams, “I’m in!” As he hops in circles of joy, I glance at the rest of it and they’re thrilled to have him, I’m thrilled he found out.

We’re very proud of our son and are thrilled to note he has been accepted at his first choice school, to begin studying for his teaching degree in high school science. It makes a joyous holiday season just wee bit brighter.

Of Musicals and Trees

Posted by Bob Greenberger on December 10, 2005

Deb has always wanted to see Movin’ Out, the musical using Billy Joel’s songs with choreography by Twyla Tharp. It got terrific reviews when it opened in 2002 and after Kate saw it twice – and loved it — as part of a class last year, she wanted to see it even more.

In September, I saw the closing notice had gone up for this weekend. I wandered down to the theatre and purchased two tickets for December 9. They were placed in a gift box, wrapped in Holiday paper and presented to Deb during one dinner over Thanksgiving weekend. An early start to the season of giving and sharing.

Yesterday, despite the threat of horrible snow and rain, we made it into Manhattan, and our respective offices, without delay. The streets of New York were clear by the time we found each other around 5:30. Deb had spied a Cuban restaurant on her way over and they were featuring paella, a dish I really enjoy and don’t have very often. We tried it out, sharing an appetizer and dessert along the way. Very good food, quick service and we were ready for the show.

What I was not prepared for was how much I enjoyed it. Ballet bores me to tears and despite heavy dollops of it from beginning to end; I was captivated by how much emotion was conveyed through the movements of the dancers. Anger, rage, jealously, affection, despair and so much more. The story line isn’t overly complex; it can’t be given the lack of dialogue (okay, the lead says, “Yes” at one point but you get the drift), but Tharp found just the right lyrics, excerpts and full songs, to tell her story.

The performers, the entire original cast in the leads, were exceptional. I was also taken with how much trust had to be displayed as people were spun, tossed, hurled, carried, manhandled and more during each exhausting number.

Deb loved it even more than I did but we had a great night and in many ways, it really kick started the holiday spirit in the house.

Today we continued that with the purchase of our Christmas tree. Robbie was really into it and we sampled a variety at the local Home Depot (some years we went to tree farms, some years we patronized the local Boy Scout troop, but this year we wanted simple). We finalized our choice, Robbie named it “Freddie” and we brought it home.

Speaking of trees, we also dug through the snow and found grass and then dirt as we made holes for six trees that need to be planted. Our friends Bob and Laurie gave us the lovely anniversary gift of Apricot trees for our anniversary. They arrived just over a week ago and we had to get them planted now before they came out of torpor. It was a surreal experience.