Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Spouting Off

Just wanted to spout off about a few things today.  Just for the heck of it.

First, for my adolescent lit. class, I had to choose a topic and pick three books that fit that topic.  I chose teen manners.

I just finished the first book, Classy by Derek Blasberg.  He must be somebody important because he said so, but I honestly don't know who he is.  He's a guy who grew up in Missouri and has ended up in NYC as a fashion guy somehow.  It seems that his purpose in this book is to take really skanky people and teach them not to be that way, but to be high class--one extreme to the other.  He said a lot of good things at the end about treating yourself right.  Other than that, there are a lot of pictures with Derek with this famous person and that famous person and where he went, what he did, and who he was with even though he was a boy from Missouri.

When I read these books, I try to look at them through my daughters' eyes.  What could they gain from them?  Not much from this one, I'm sorry to say.

I'm currently reading the second book I chose.  Honestly, I'm trying to find the virtue in these books, but again, not finding it too much here either.  I'm reading More Things You Need to Be Told by the Etiquette Grrls.  I guess this is their second book.  I bet you can't guess what the first was called....Oh, you're good.  Yup...Things You Need to Be Told.  My guess is that there were a lot of people who liked that first book.  So many so that it went to their heads just a wee bit.

I had hoped this would be about etiquette.  It is not, for the most part.  They deal with everything from what car you should drive to what sports you should and should not watch and/or participate in.  They do have a few etiquette rules, but mostly, it seems like they want everyone to be like them.

...And if they call me "Dear Reader" one more time....

Can I be negative about one more thing, and then I'll leave this all behind me?

One thing about etiquette is using societal rules, right?  I may not be a perfect grammarian (as is very apparent), but I know that You Don't put Random Capital letters at the beginning of Any random word you want in a Sentence.  It's just making me a bit crazy.  Not very appropriate, if you ask me.  I've been trying to find some rhyme or reason to it, but if there's some secret code to it, I haven't cracked it yet.  I guess to me, this is kind of like how Flylady (whom I love) and is all about organization used to have one of the most cluttered websites I've ever seen.  Not sure if it's still this way because I don't have the heart to go there.  It's been a long time.  Just seems a bit contradictory to teach something yet go against the very thing you're teaching.

Okay, so karma's going to come bite me in the rear end for this post.  I just know it.  I try very hard to be positive and upbeat and happy.  I think there's too much out there that's the opposite.  Here I am being the opposite, but at least I'm honest, huh?

When I read something good, which I hope is soon.  I'll be sure to tell you.  I will finish the current book tomorrow.  Then I'm on to this one.  Hope it's a good one!  It's a lot of pages.



NOTE:  Just went to the Flylady site to get a link for you.  Ugh!  Worse than before.  Her method really is lovely though.  Once you get the basic premise, I'd say fit it to your life.  Don't let the website get you down.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

I could not love this post more. lol Thank you for your thoughts on these books. Unfortunately their sense of etiquette may not be in line with what God intends, and they know it.

I have just a little constructive criticism about your blog. I love the new background and changes, but I am getting eye strain from reading the lighter text.

I have you on my schedule for A Shining Blog. Hope to have it published very soon. I will let you know the date. Have a blessed day, Julie!

Crazymamaof6 said...

Good to know. I just bought my 11 year old boy a book 50 things every young gentleman should know" by John Bridges. from my perusal at the store it looked informative and basic. Plus it covered hygiene and manners and some how to stuff like how to tie a tie. I'm making both my big boys read it and passing it to my nephews.

Hesses Madhouse said...

Wow! Thanks Lynda. What a huge honor, and thank you for the input. I have changed the font. Hoping that helps. I will also look for another background soon.

Hesses Madhouse said...

Sounds like a great one, Julie! I'm going to have to go find that one for sure. This Etiquette Grrls book did have a bit for boys on being chivalrous, and I appreciated that, but your book sounds ideal. Thanks for the recommendation.

vaxhacker said...

Can we say, "vanity publishing?" A little bit? So what you're learning about adolescent lit is that adolescent lit has a lot of mediocre books, I guess.

On the FlyLady thing, it's pretty common for people to not take into account that web design is a real skill that not everyone can do. There are a lot of very professional organizations with atrocious websites. Ugh.

vaxhacker said...

And here I bought books like Dangerous Science Experiments for Kids, Forbidden Lego Projects, ...


You'd never know I was raising boys.

Hesses Madhouse said...

Yes, Vax, I got to thinking about her site yesterday and considered what I would do to change it. There's so much vital information there. She needs the BEST to organize her stuff for her while she's helping the rest of the world organize their stuff.

Corinne Ritz said...

HAHA!! I used to be a loyal follower of fly lady till I just couldn't stand her site anymore. I did however, all those years ago, adopt her ways and changed a few things to fit into my life. It does help, when I follow the plan I made based off of her ideas.

Janiece said...

I LOVE your blog background...Please don't change it just because of someone's "opinion". Unless YOU want to change it.
I am not a reader so I can not say anything about the books.
I received a book in 1976 from one of my best friends it is called, "this, that, and everything, by don j. black.
AWESOME BOOK...I have notes all through it along with notes from my mom...

Another book that is really good and not so old(2003)is titled, "Valiant Young Women, Heroines, by Bryce D Gibby.

I want you to know I believe with all my heart, that if we think there is something that "is anything virtuous, lovely or of good", we should be seaking those things and if something is disapointing we should also say the same.
It is not likely that there are many that are going to agree or like ALL the same things. (at least not to our faces)
You are amazing and I do value your oppion.
Now I am off to check out the blog ...just because my head already hurts!

Holly Schwendiman said...

Oh dear, one of my many buttons! :P So much has been lost in today's world. I tried to frame some of my own teachings into an outline, this is where it led: http://www.squidoo.com/charmschool101 Organizing my own notes and collections on the topic over the years has given me wonderful material which I've tried to share in meaningful ways. I think if we stick with the real definition of charm we'd all do just fine on our own without the "experts" who are writing books on it. *giggle, snort*

Hugs,
Holly

Lia London, author said...

Dear Reader, you Know I Love you and your Insights, so you shouldn't feel bad for Spouting Off every now and then. (tee hee--are you seeing red?)

I'm guessing there was some vanity press there. It's frustrating that "self-help" books can be written by such self-absorbed people.

Hope you find a good read, soon.

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