Team 6 - Team Ohana - Check in and introduce!

[jbucci]

I've been so busy lately I've barely had time to run, let alone post-- if only I could type on the TM

I noticed the Hershey Park reference, I love that place. We lived out near Hershey for several years (I personally blame the smell of chocolate in the air for 15 of my unwanted pounds, that and the stress of residency...) We were so close to downtown that you really could smell chocolate and roasting peanuts in the morning-- if the wind was blowing the other way however, you smelled cow. Chocolate cow is not all it's cracked up to be.

We had a fun weekend. I am fortunate to have a friend with a house on the bay in Ocean City, NJ and we spent the weekend there for a city-wide party called Night in Venice where all of the houses on the water decorate and there is a big boat parade. The family we stay with goes all out with decorating and we spent the whole morning drawing, painting and hanging our display before a nice beach and boardwalk break. DD4 got to ride to the boardwalk with us on a tag-along bike, kind of a kid-sized bike bolted to the grown up one so they can ride but not swerve around and can choose to pedal or take a break and just be pulled by mom or dad.

The rest of this week in slotted for prep for my DD's five year old birthday bash this weekend (her b-day is actually the 29th)-- frog themed and will start at a place with lots of inflatable "moon bounce" type stuff then continue at our house for swimming, hanging out and general merriment.

I'm off to the TM for a few more miles...

 

[jeanneg]

Just a quickie post to say "hi"to all the Ohana cousins!

Nancy: Before you run out and buy that book, I must warn you that it's not your garden variety steamy novel. I don't know if she ever wrote anymore but the ones I was thinking of are a 3-part trilogy based on the classic Sleeping Beauty Tale. Let's just say it was one version of Sleeping Beauty I never wanted my kids to see! I actually own all three but think I only read 2. They are so hot they will burn your hands off......at least in the beginning. Then, like anything else, they get monotonous fairly quickly. I only mentioned them because Debra reads so much and someone had mentioned Anne Rice. Before you go buy anything, do a search and read a review. I'd post a link, but it will probably get censored and I've been there, done that before!

Glad to hear you had fun at Hershey park, but sorry to hear you didn't fork over big bucks. Now that Jason is working for them and buying stock every paycheck, I'm hoping more people will generously part with their hard earned money! At least he sent us home with a bag full of chocolate this weekend....yum, yum!

Jen: good luck with the birthday party!

Everybody else: please post your miles/minutes if you haven'y already done so!

Gotta run, more tomorrow....

Jeanne

 

[tiberius]

Richard: how's the healing process coming along? I'm happy to see you're still managing to get those miles in.

Thanks for remembering!! The healing (back injury) is going slow, but steady. Some times it is fine, then later it is pretty painful. I started physical therapy last Thursday (today was the second session) and so far it seems helpful, but in a 2 steps forward 2 step back sort of way.
My doctor has cleared me for walking, but not running. Last weekend I walked 6 miles, short-cutting my running group's route. I am starting to worry about preparation for November's marathon, but I should still have plenty of time if I keep up with what I can do now.
BTW, my physical therapist is flying to L.A. later this year to do the Muddy Buddy rub, so I feel like she understands my frustration with not being able to run!

Sorry that I don't often have time to post, but I do browse through the board every now and then.

 

[deekaypee]

Maria: Are you over the scare of the baseline weigh-in? What doesn't frighten us to death makes us...motivated? Woo hoo for getting your WO in by 8 a.m. on the weekend. I aspire to such motivation, regardless of how it comes. Ah, yes, the short-lived engagement to Jason Patric, I believe. Lyle Lovett was a much better choice. (Gee, I know a lot about Roberts for someone who doesn't admire her talents. )

I don't think of you as raunchy. More like bawdy. Maybe it's because I like the word better, and think of being bawdy as requiring a bit of cleverness and kind of ironic sensibility about the whole thing. Very clever, you are! And still decadent, what with the fudge stripes and all.

Kayci: Great job and congratulations on your trail run. I'm so happy you achieved a pace that surprised even you, outpaced your DH's expectations, and saw some interesting sights. How did the Garmin work for you? As far as TM, it sounds like Alias is both engaging and motivational if you're that far into season 1 already. I hope you can find a running group to hook up with--I run alone--so that you have the support to run the Disney full. Of COURSE none of us will discourage you. If it helps you make up your mind to register (soon, as Robert's post suggests), I think many of us find the draw of the Disney events to be the location and spending time with WISHer friends (and our families). You needn't worry about pace unless you want to. You can always hang out with a number of us on the course at a nice, easy pace (whatever yours may be). Me, I'm worried about photo ops; it would be nice to have at least one picture on the course where I look at least happy if not attractive.

Nancy: Yeah, I've been told I "think too much" about books. Occupational hazard, I guess, although I'm more willing to admit that I'm not normal in many, many ways. DOOD and I like the Grandma character a lot, too. I won't tell you how much time we spent discussing Evanovich's representation of "the family," biological and otherwise. I'm not sure if I'm sorry or happy for you that you're enjoying all your classes and still not feeling the love for your walking. If you're happy, I'm happy I guess--especially if you're still coming to race weekend regardless of your participation in the 1/2 and I'll get to meet you!

Sometime, when you (and others, like Jeanne or JenB) have time, I'd love to hear more about Hersheypark. I've never been, and it's on my list of PA places to visit. Love theme parks and chocolate, so it's an unbeatable combination.

Robert: Meant to note this on the reporting thread, but woo hoo for your increased mileage. That rocks! Good luck on this weekend's 4 miles! Oh, and yay for Linda starting work! What does she do?

Christa: Your journal never seasons to impress and even exhaust me. Under 7 mm, as fast as 6:12. You are such a natural athlete! (Not that you don't work hard at it....)

Jen B: Chocolate cow? Is that anything like chocolate cheese? (Remember when you were little and thought brown cows produced chocolate milk? Or maybe that was just me...). Night in Venice sounds like such a cool place, both as a visitor and as a resident. I just love community events where everyone participates. It sounds like your DD had a great deal of fun on the tag-a-long bike (never heard of that). It also sounds like her birthday party will be a blast! I love the frog them, "moon bounce" and swimming--it's just perfect mix for active, bouncy 5yos!

Jeanne: Ah, erotica based on Sleeping Beauty. I do love my fairy-tale revisions. I might need to check it out, reviews be hanged! (For a literary fairy-tale revision of Sleeping Beauty, I really like Jane Yolen's Briar Rose, which juxtaposes the fairy tale and the Holocaust, using a young woman's investigations of her grandmother's stories/life.) Am I to understand that you have some inside connections to Hersheypark? Do tell!

Richard: I'm glad you gave us an update on your rehab, but hugs to you for still having back pain. I hope you're following your doctor's recommendations and walking rather than trying to sneak running in there. (Like I would probably do.) I'm sure you PT will do everything she can to help you get ready for your events because she feels your (emotional) pain and frustration with regards to training. She's definitely an asset in your recovery. Could you/would you be willing to walk or run your November marathon at a much slower, easier pace? (You can always hang back with me in January.)

As for me: Well, it looks like the extended IL-family is coming to Pgh for Christmas this year. Apparently the decision was made over this weekend without my or DOOD's full input. Good for us, insomuch as that's the cheaper option for us. No air travel, we don't need to chip in for a house rental (and they won't be staying in our 1-bedroom apt. Plus, it means we're not traveling and disrupting our training routines during the holidays. I just wish my ILs had asked for our take on things (and for my BIL/SIL's), rather than calling us with the decision and telling us why it's the best thing for us. (p.s. I'm also not sure what it means for me going home to see my dad, which might be a good thing because of his health.)

On the upside, having these holiday plans made means we *might* be able to afford extra time at Disney before the marathon! And I'm thinking of starting my marathon training a little early because I know our WO schedule will be stable during the holidays! (I won't need to plan so compulsively about when my LRs hit.) So I thought I'd ask you all: when do you start your January marathon training (or 1/2)???

Oh, and all you cougars out there...Did you see The Daily Show (w/ Jon Stewart) and their parody of cougars? Here it is! I don't think they truly understand what's so funny about cougars, or why so many women adopt to term as a way of exposing that older woman are indeed sexual creatures. Still, it's good for a laugh and worth watching if only for its attempt to come up with an equivalent term for older men: Redenbachers. (I think we can do better than that! Suggestions?)

 

[laughinplace199]

Hi Cousins!

Debra - The weather in Boston in October is anybody's guess. You know how New England weather is. I'm pretty sure it won't snow, but beyond that I really can't say. I'm hoping for a nice, cool, crisp fall day for my first race, but with my luck it will be hot and humid or pouring rain. Sorry to hear that your IL's made holiday plans without consulting you, but at least having them come to you won't interfere with your training. That Daily Show clip on cougars was funny, but you're right, they need to come up with a better word for men.

Maria - Sorry to hear that you won't be doing the BAA 1/2, but at least I'll get to meet you in January! I noticed that you mentioned the 100 cal Lorna Doones in one of your earlier posts. I love those! They taste just as yummy as the regular LD's.

Kayci - Of course you should sign up for the full! Hey, I'm older and slower than you are and I've never run a race and I'm doing the full. How's that for encouragement?

Nancy - It wasn't easy holding off reading Fearless Fourteen, but I'm glad I did. That book was a great vacation read. I agree with you about Grandma - she's one of my favorite characters. I really like Lula too. And then of course, there's Ranger...

JenB - Good luck with your DD's birthday bash.

Jeanne - I might have to run out and get those A.N. Roquelaure books too. If posting a link to a review would get you censored, this sounds like something the cabana boys and I should check out.

As for me, I think resting on my trip healed my hamstring injury. Or maybe it was the rum... In any case, I ran today and it was fine. I'm still going to take it slow and only run a few miles at a time until I'm sure everything is fine. I think my real training starts some time next month. Also, I've started reading Marathoning for Mortals again, and this time I'm really into it. I used to get overwhelmed every time I picked it up, but now I'm finding it inspiring.

Hello to the rest of my cousins. I hope everyone is having a great week!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Hey Cousins!

I had an unbelievably rotten Monday at work, and I just haven't had the heart to post. Sigh. But life must go on and the mortgage must be paid...so I might as well get back with my Dis buds!

No formal workout today, 2 miles on the TM yesterday, and 6 miles of walking today.

Julie -- I love MfM! It is a great book, I often pick it up and reread a chapter when I need inspiration. I'm so glad you are healed! I think it was the cabana boy...

Debra -- Aha! Someone else who watches the Daily Show! That's where I get the harebrained ideas to read most of these books. I believe the common name for the male version has been dirty old men...not passing judgement, just sayin'... I started my half training last year in Oct., and I followed MfM. I plan to do the same again this year, assuming I get my base back and get my body in motion.

Richard -- My asst. has been doing pt for her foot, and every day she comes back to the office, liking the pt person a bit more. I think it's worse in the beginning and then it gets better, at least I hope so!

Jeanne -- I like Anne Rice's vampire and witch series, I've never read the "special" fiction. I also wasn't over fond of her "Christ" series, but maybe the next book will be better. I think it helps if you're Catholic, and I don't happen to be. Anyway, based on her other series, I bet those books are absolutely smokin' hot!

JenB -- My ds's first big birthday bash w/friends was at 5, what a fun age! I know you are having a blast with it! I wish I could say I'm still as enthusiastic 5 years later...we've been to too many and held too many for my introverted self. Your DD is going to think you hung the moon, and that's always a plus!

Robert, Linda, Christa, Kayci, Shell, Mel, Denny, Nancy, Johanna, Ruth, Aimee, Corinna & Other Cousins -- I hope you are having a great week, and not living with scary weather!

Maria

 

[tiberius]

Debra – As long as I can still do it, I do not mind if I have to walk a large portion of my November marathon; it’s not like I was that fast to begin with! And thanks for the offer to do January together, I might just take you up on that one, especially since I am doing Houston HM the next week!

Maria – Thanks for the good words of support! The therapy exercises are indeed getting better, although today she really turned things up for me!


All in all things continue to get better for me, but still far too slowly. Still in all truthfulness, I could have been hurt far worse.

 

[angelamama]

Hi Ohana!
I've been to your team for the upcoming marathon, and am so excited to jump in and meet everyone. I finished my first marathon in February 2008, and it was so amazing that I became hooked! My husband and I are both going to be running this one, which should be fun. Thanks for letting me join!
Angela

 

[laughinplace199]

Welcome Angela!

 

[Kristi1357]

Please excuse the interruption!

Hey guys, if you haven't noticed, Judy & myself are trying to entice as many WISHers as possible to voluntEAR as Sports Enthusiasts for Marathon Weekend.

It will be lots of fun, and what a great way to support others WISHers (and all the athletes) if you are not participating!

Nevermind, you receive a one-day park ticket, jacket and a snack for your troubles!

I know that we had a blast doing this last year and we hope to have much more particpation this year.

Here's a link to the thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1892549

Come on guys, you know you wanna....

Back to normal team posting activities...

 

[chimera]

Did y'all behave while I was gone?

I did no running, but lots of hiking. Read 6 books while away. Whoever suggested the Julie Kenner demon-fighting soccer mom books...thanks! I got Carpe Demon from the library and really liked it!

Debra...I saw something on another thread that you mentioned regarding Cliff Notes that brought back a lot of memories. I have to admit, I bought them for nearly every book I had to read in 11th and 12th grade, but probably not for the reasons everyone else did. I actually read the books, but I'm a very concrete thinker. I just read the words on the page, the whole symbolism and deeper meaning stuff I just don't see. The Cliff Notes were a huge help, especially with things like Moby Dick and Sound and Fury. I'm interested to hear your analysis of Stephanie Plum's family...what did I miss?

JenB...chocolate cow! Ish! We're near the Tropicana plant in Bradenton. Nothing like a sickening sweet orange smell in the air to get your day going. How did the birthday party go?

JenL...how are things on the business front? Any news on the Sarasota lead...that would be cool! Is Paul a programmer? Jeff's in IT...the market here isn't great, but St. Pete/Tampa are much better.

Maria...definitely go with bawdy...I like it! I found out in NC that my Cherokee sun sign is the panther which is about the same thing as a cougar, I believe!

Christa...how ya been?

Angela...welcome!

Richard...hope things heal up well!

Jeanne...DD15 has Wake Forest on her list of colleges. Do you know much about the school? How do you like living in the area?

 

[jbucci]

We had a really fun weekend-- I'm now totally exhausted, but we had fun. We had the birthday party at a place called Pump It Up with giant moon bounce, slide, inflated obstacle course, etc. There was much jumping The stuff is big enough for adults and since we refuse to grow up, my DH and I joined in the jumping. I'm pretty sure the other parents thought we were kind of strange but we did manage to talk a few others in to joining us on the bouncy stuff. The only flaw was that my DH get a bit competitive and really wanted to win at the obstacle course (against the grown ups, kids got to beat him and it was ok). He came down hard on his toe and is still sore the next day, so no running for him for at least a couple of days.

After the party we had our close friends and family back to the house for continued festiving and the opening of more presents. There was swimming, wii playing and munchies.

We have finally reclaimed our house and are settling back down. DD will be officially 5 on the 29th, so we are thinking of something special to do for her that night-- we might make the trip to Atlantic City to eat at Rainforest Cafe- it is her favorite WDW dining venue and we have yet to check out the "local" one (about a 1 hour drive). If I can get my act together I'll post a few pics.

I should stop typing and get jogging, I've taken too many days off already and the DL 1/2 is getting close....

 

[Jen117]

Hi team - I have been very quiet this past week and I apologize. Work is crazy and my mom has been quite ill. She was put in the ICU on Friday and we almost lost her. Her respiratory system shut down. So needless to say, I have not exercised or ran in a week. I just visited her and they pulled her trach tube, so she is on the mend.

Mel - I am in a whirlwind of emotions, so the business purchase and Paul's job investigating has been sidelined a little. The Sarasota job turned out to be a work at home (here) kind of job. So no moving would be necessary. Yes, DH is a programmer, for 11+ years. His expertese is non-web applications, which is a highly sought after skill (good for us!!). He also works with web, but more so as a project manager.

WELCOME to all the new Cousins. So happy to have our little family growing!!!

 

[grizbuzz]

Hello! Just wanted to introduce myself as Dave has assigned me to your team. Hope you all don't mean if a noobie like myself joins the family...

My name is Jennifer. I'm 38 years old and I am a mother of two (DS3 and DS5). I've never been terribly athletic, but have always enjoyed the outdoors and have done some hiking, swimming and exercise classes. Anyway, on my birthday this year I decided that now might be a good time to challenge myself to do a little more. I peaked at the WISH thread and started getting enticed by the Disneyland and WDW marathons and in April decided to meet with a personal trainer at our exercise club to discuss getting ready for a half marathon. To start out, I signed up for a 10K which will take place Aug 24 (at Lake Merritt in Oakland). Then I also signed up for a 1/2 marathon for Feb 2009 in Huntington Beach. I'm hoping that maybe I'll be ready for a DL 1/2 marathon in 2009 or maybe a WDW 1/2 marathon in 2010!

I'm up to about 5 miles on my long runs and it's taken me quite some time to get here. I also do weights a couple times a week and am now trying to build in yoga and/or pilates one time a week.

I'm really beginning to enjoy running and train in at Lake Chabot near my home.

So glad to be part of your Ohana and hope someday to do a Disney 1/2 marathon with some of you!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

867-5309....

Jennifer -- We always love adding to our family! I believe you are our third Jennifer!

Jen -- Massive, massive I am so sorry for what you've been through. Don't you dare apologize for being MIA, I think we get it. I hope you get a minute to relax in that hot tub, you deserve it! So glad to hear mom is improving, I know how scary that is.

JenB -- It sounds like you had a total blast! I'm sure dd was thrilled with everything.

Mel -- I have to stop being bawdy, I scare the newbies away! I don't suppose any of you believe I teach Sunday School? Joke's on you -- 1st and 2nd graders!

Angela -- Tell us a little about yourself!

Richard -- Have you been back to PT yet? I hope you continue to improve!

Jeanne -- Put some clothes on, we have new relatives!

Julie-- Are you enjoying MfM more this time around? I am reading Undead and Unworthy, I'm a sucker for a vampire queen (and also apparently a really bad pun)!

Debra -- I see the coming out in you! Very clever, you are, too! That's why I said in the Lean Mean thread I always grab a cold beverage before I read your posts. Now, since I'm tea totalling Tessie, that's usually an A&W Diet Root Beer. Only the best for you! If I was seriously imbibing I'd need a thesaurus for interpretation!

Ok, cousins, have an awesome night! I have some sort of ear issue going on that is making me dizzy and affecting my balance. Hence, no TM for me today or this weekend. I promise to try to get moving again as soon as I can stay on my feet for any length of time!

Maria

 

[deekaypee]

Jen: I'm so, so, so sorry to hear about your DM. The ICU--oh my! I'm glad to hear she's on the mend, though. I hope you and your family get a chance to catch your collective breaths, enjoy some good health and fortune in the near future, and go ahead with making plans which will make your lives easier and more fulfilling. (Like good news on the family business, soon.) I hope ALL your Disney plans come to pass, too!

Julie: I'm so, so happy for you that you're finding MfM inspirational on a 2nd and 3rd look. I think I might have found it intimidating, too, at first. But the more I trained, the more accurate I found Bingham's words, and the more I liked it. And I was especially comforted by his descriptions of taper madness and post-race depression. It made me feel less...alone, I guess. Big, big fan, even as I begin to evaluate his training plans with others'. I'll be modifying his plan, which I'm currently following and starting early, as I go along. Still need to read Galloway.

Even better news about your hamstring. The rum, the sun, the fun, and the cabana boy--as Maria pointed out--must have done you good. Might I suggest you go on a trip like this to celebrate your BAA success?

Maria: Yeah for using MfM for your training! I don't know what your base was for last year, but it seems to me that you've been doing an awful lot of walking this summer, whether it's officially part of a WO or for leisure or in your work commutes. I wouldn't be surprised to learn you're in better shape this year than last year! I don't think taking some time off the TM this week, given your ear issues, will hurt. (Whereas being on a TM and having balance problems probably would. Ouch!) P.S. You don't drink?? Alcohol that is. Oops, I hope I didn't offend you on the Lean Meaner thread.

Question about Anne Rice that maybe you or Jeanne can answer. When & why did Rice convert back to Christianity after decades as an atheist--and was it Catholicism that she turned to?

Richard: I think you'd be a blast to hang with in January. Funny, well-read, a little crazy.... (Another race the following week??!!) It sounds like your PT is helping a lot, and is helping you progress at a challenging but non-injurious pace.

Angela: Welcome to Ohana. Jump on in--the water's warm! (Where is that hula smilie?) Are you and DH running together? My DH, DOOD, and I aren't nearly that close (in pace and otherwise) to be able to do that!

Mel: You read six books!! Wow, a reader's dream vacation. And all that hiking to balance things out. Woo hoo! Ah, Cliffs Notes. I think Aloha Jeff brought them up. I don't mind them to supplement reading--have used them myself. But let me let you in on a big secret. I've never read Moby Dick--and probably never will!

In graduate school, we English folks had this drinking game that was a lot of fun. We'd each take turns admitting to a great, famous work of literature that we knew we were supposed to have read, but never had. The person with the most embarrassing reveal had to drink a shot. It was a welcome relief from the bragging and posturing that so often accompanied grad school. And I have to admit, I often won rounds! Or is that lost? Anyway, I downed a lot of shots.

JenB: Oooh, the bday party seems like it was so much fun. I love a party that is as much fun for adults as it is for kids, and vice versa. And your DH sounds like he'd be fun to compete against, if not with. (No potato-sack racing teams!) Of course, I'd lose, but I'm okay with that. I hope his toe is better. You'll have to let us know how the local Rainforest compares with WDW's. I like the Rainforest in Chicago, and am lukewarm on the one in DTD. But before you let us know the update on that, let us know how your DL 1/2 training progresses!

Jennifer: Wow, Dave knows all the Jens/Jennifers like to hang out together. We've got a clique going on! Welcome to Ohana!!! You certainly sound athletic to me--and seem to have lots in common with Jen (117) and Mel, among others. I'm an adult-onset athlete myself--sounds like a disease, doesn't it?--and found running/walking/just plain moving has changed my life for the better. You're already running 5 miles??!! I think you could be headed toward 1/2 territory sooner than you think. Definitely DL 1/2 2009 or the Princess 1/2 in March 2009. (January 2009 would be totally do-able, even.) Anyway, I look forward to hearing more about your training, your SF area runs, and all about you and your family!

Julie, Maria, Mel, and all my cougars.... If we're cougars, maybe older men are dingoes, a variation of the dog motif? (We already know they're dirty old men, as Maria noted.) I don't know, the word dingo just makes me laugh. Very mature, I know.

As for me: First, Pittsburgh is back on hold for the family holidays, and Orlando is back in the running. Why? I don't know. My ILs are negotiating all sorts of family dynamics in this "travel for the holidays" thing. I've officially stated my desire not to get involved with the family decision-making dynamics. "Shut up and show up" is my new motto, whereever that may be. I'm just going to go ahead and make reservations for when *I* want to be at Disney and hope I don't need to accommodate other people.

First weekend of marathon training was harder than I thought. Not the miles, but the mindset that I'm starting so early, KWIM? I just want to get more miles than MfM calls for, at this plan will get me to 24 miles--ideally. Last year, I had quite a few runs that fell short. This year, I'm hoping for better, with the thought that the extra time will help me avoid injury. That, and more consistent XT.

And I'm sure training will be easier for me by the end of August and the unofficial end of summer. We tend to pack our August with lots of activities, at least before the semester starts. So we're so busy right now it makes my head hurt. We've gone out to an event every day since Thursday (Annie Get Your Gun, Wall-E, Carnegie Science Center, Schenley Park's Cinema in the Park, and a staged reading of Troilus and Cressida tonight). Who knew having so much fun could be so tiring?

 

[deekaypee]

Stephanie Plum books.

Mel, you asked for it. Possible spoilers for those who haven't read the first Evanovich novel. It's a really OT post, so don't bother to read it unless you're curious about how people "like me" read literature. (Or maybe I'm one of a kind. IDK. ) And maybe it's interesting for those who know the Plum books, I don't know. Or just read the bolded part--my summation. I didn't know what I was saying until I wrote it all out. Par for the course.

I haven't really analyzed the books much, and these are just some beginning observations. I haven't read Two for the Dough yet--although I will do so this week. I will say that Evanovich's books fit with others in the genre that I have read. It seems to me that hard-boiled female detectives are surrounded by and concerned with family. This idea seems to be central to the genre, and creates contrasts between female detectives and their white, male counterparts. And the focus on the family, and social issues, also seems to become more prominent with hard-boiled female detectives developed during & after the 1970s, following the first-wave feminist movement. Evanovich's Plum is a great example, of course, but also Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski, Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone (less with her than with others), etc. All such novels examine the female detective in terms of her wider social network, including or especially the family. The female hard-boiled detective isn't quite the lone Raymond Chandler hero, even if she attempts to be. (And, for the record, the male hard-boiled detective isn't quite the loner he portrays himself as, either.)

Another interesting development. These authors' characters also tend to be explicitly concerned with their heterosexual romantic relationships and their sexuality. (Apparently the Morelli/Ranger question.) I find it very interesting that Plum is very careful to characterize herself as a independent woman, someone in control of her sexuality and responsible for her own actions. Plum describes Morelli's what-might-be-seen-as-perp behavior--when they're children and again when they're teens--rather neutrally. She describes herself as being a willing participant rather than as a victim. This perspective is consistent with the other female detectives I've encountered--even when they're described as being in dangerous/violent situations where their gender is a liability (due to their smaller size, lesser physical strength, the possibility of rape). But the authors and/or characters tend to claim full responsibility for most of the protagonists' situations, insomuch as it is their professional identities (and personalities) that put them in danger. In Evenovich's first novel, Plum does this by acting as if her relationship with Morelli (both in the past and also the present, with her as the hunter/Morelli as the quarry) is one of equals--as opposed to her relationship with Benito Ramirez (which is, initially, peripheral to her job and thus not one she controls).

And a couple of tidbits: All these hard-boiled female protagonists are very concerned with their body and appearance, are focused on food/eating, and talk about running. This comes right out of the first-wave feminist movement's claim that "the personal is political," I think. I'm not particularly surprised that Plum feels closer to her Grandma--who would have lived in a pivotal period of American history in terms of feminism--than her mother. (Aside from all the usual mother-daughter issues.) And I'm willing to bet that the series features more parallels between the two characters as it progresses. And I find it significant that Plum's family connections--both biological and criminal--actually allow her to become a bounty hunter; that fact blurs the personal/political boundaries, too.

And don't get me started on African-American hard-boiled detectives, like those found in Chester Himes, Walter Mosley (Easy Rawlins), Gar Haywood (Aaron Gunner) and even James Patterson (Alex Cross). I find their negotiation of the solitary figure (white, male detective) with the social and familial networks (female, often white, detective) fascinating!

Anyway, looking at this kind of stuff in books and films is an occupational hazard, like writing long posts. (I'm drawn to cultural connections of all sorts, not just feminist ones, btw. I really enjoy questions of socio-economic class, too.) Hmmm. I can boil this down to Plum's world does not reflect the isolated one of the traditional hard-boiled male detective. Instead, it's very concerned with both feminist and female concerns. Evanovich's female hard-boiled detective is concerned with her family and wider social networks, sexuality, romantic relationships, and control over one's body. There you go--a bunch of reading-group discussion points.

Interesting, no? Probably not for most of you. But it's what I do, who I am, what I live for.... Go ahead, tell me I read too much into things. I do, I do!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Debra My Debra -- I would say we have to get you a hobby, but you've clearly found one!

Ok, I find it very hard to refer to Stephanie Plum as hardboiled. Kinsey Milhone, Savannah Reid, Regan Reilly, absolutely. But Stephanie -- she's the fluff in the nutter sandwich. I just can't think of her as tough.

And I am not a Jersey girl, but I think the character is very true to type, not because she's in the female mystery genre, but because she comes from a blue collar neighborhood where the goal of every mother is to marry off your daughter...ok, let me rephrase this. I would actually say she doesn't fit in with her neighborhood because she is not as concerned with her appearance as her peers. She doesn't really sport big hair and tight everything all the time, and she's not eager to settle down -- but she's also not really pushing an agenda for female liberation. She's more the anti-Burg girl than the strong feminist. She is perfectly willing to let her mother feed her whenever the opportunity arises.

But, I do have the advantage of having read all the Plum books through #14, plus the Christmas novellas, so once you come to know Stephanie as I have, you may see her as softer, too.

I agree about the devotion to family, which really does make the series endearing. Stephanie says she cares about food, but she really eats whatever she wants. Unfortunately we have that in common...

This is why I can't be in a book club. I'm way too opinionated, and my analysis just isn't that deep.

Maria

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Oops! Did I scare everyone away again?! Mea culpa!

Come back, Cousins!

I am still dizzy and cannot be held responsible for my ramblings...

Seriously, how is our little family doing? I bet you're all working out more than me!

As I said on another thread, I am the body at rest that tends to stay at rest...

Maria

 

[laughinplace199]

Hi cousins!

Jen - I'm sorry to hear that your mom was so sick , but I'm happy to hear that she is on the mend.

Jennifer -

Mel - Six books! Wow! I'm jealous. I only read three on my trip, but then again, I was distracted by all of those hot cabana boys...

Maria - The cabana boys definitely had a part in my healing. I'm sure of it. I'm loving MfM this time around. However, reading MfM leaves me no time to read anything "fun" right now. I hope your dizziness is going away. I can't wait to meet you in person. I love that some of your posts can make a cougar blush and yet, you are also a Sunday school teacher!

Debra - I love the term "dingoes" - it's way better than Reddenbachers. And yes, I think the sun, rum, and cabana boys were the perfect remedy for my injured hamstring. Unfortunately, there won't be another trip like that for quite a while, so I'll have to find another way to celebrate after the BAA 1/2. Sorry to hear your holiday plans are up in the air. I hope everything works out the way you want it to. I loved reading your analysis of Stephanie Plum, but now my head hurts. I would have to agree with Maria that Stephanie isn't all that tough. I can't recall the first book since I read it so long ago, but I think she is just your average girl with an unusual occupation. If I became a bounty hunter , I think I'd behave similarly (as far as how she does her job). I'm sure I'd leave my gun in the cookie jar, or if I did bring it with me, it wouldn't be loaded! I can't wait to read your analysis of Two for the Dough.