5 handy home hints that are so easy even I got them right

"I'm not going to vacuum until Sears makes one you can ride on."
- Roseanne Barr

Real simple : 869 new uses for old things / edited by Rachel Hardage and Sharon Tanenbaum ; photographs by James Wojcik ; illustrations by Kate Francis ; prop styling by Linden Elstran.
I'm not the best homemaker. Some days I feel like I should be concerned about it, and then I think that surely life is too short to be overly fussed about how to get softdrink stains out of the settee. (That would be Mr2's fault, not mine, I'd like to point out). The other day I came across a book about the 500 wonders of baking soda. Baking. Soda. I was a bit dubious, so I requested every book we have on baking soda (don't judge me with your Judgey McJudgerson faces) and am putting some of the tips to the test. (That'll be another post for another day). AND THEN I came across THIS BOOK which, you know, I just HAD TO HAVE. (I know, I talk/think in caps far too much). I showed it to friends last night and they related the most hilarious stories. I'm keeping them anonymous BECAUSE REASONS. I think you'll get a kick out of them, though, so here are their stories, followed by 5 home hints from this book that worked for me.

Friend1: I used egg in my hair once and it really worked. It was great
Me: Egg? Or egg white?
Friend1: Egg. The whole egg *slight pause* Whatever you do, though, don't use hot water to rinse it out because...
Me: No. No way. OMG no way. Scrambled eggs?! *trying not to laugh*
Friend1: Look...
Me: SCRAMBLED EGGS? You had scrambled eggs in your hair? *doubled over screaming with laughter* (Because I'm sympathetic like that, obviously)
Friend1: Well, yes, but, yes. YES *snooty look*
Me: *beyond words*

Friend2: I read somewhere once that if you need to get into tight shoes you take a bar of soap and run it around your heels and feet...
Me: *interrupts* Dry or wet?
Friend2: Dry. Anyway, you run it around your feet and then you can slide into your tight shoes easier
*all of us kinda pause and think about that*
Friend2: I've never done it, though, because I think my feet sweat so much I'd be worried that I'd leave a trail of bubbles wherever I go
Me: WTH? *doubled over - AGAIN - hooting with laughter*

Seriously, I'm not sure why people tell me anything because it either ends up in a blog post (albeit anonymously), or with me laughing at them. Mostly, both. SO! There's your dose of humour for the day. I'm not Suzie Homemaker. I'm never going to be. I can't say that I'm going to mourn that fact, either. Simple tips, though, like these, are things that I can manage quite happily. Maybe I'll make something like this a regular monthly post. What do you think?

Bloggity, blogging, bloggers...

I have a confession to make.

I am an addict.

Now don't get all excited. My addiction is nowhere near as scandalous as booze, drugs or sex. I am not a celebrity after all.

My addiction - make that addictions - are fairly mundane. There's my addiction to books (do I really need to explain this one) and chocolate (Hello it's chocolate, need I say anything more...) and Scifi television (go figure). My latest addiction is a rather odd one, though understandable given the direction my life has taken in the last few months.

I have become addicted to reading blogs and I blame it entirely on MJ, Tosca, Scriven and my other fellow bloggers. (Picture of me giving you all a firm stare over the rim of my glasses).

I could of course say it was all entirely in the name of research (which would be partially true) but really it's just a fascinating and very addictive and easy way to pass the time. There are some truly great blogs out there and some that are so bad that they are almost good, if you know what I mean.

One of the wonderful things about being a blogger is that there is also a small chance that you may get seen by a publishing house and pick up a book contract.

So here's a salute to my fellow bloggers who are out there in the big wide world, slaving away at their computer, wondering if they will ever have a life.

Power to the people! (a chocolate fish to anyone who can guess which tv show this was from).

Comic Book Month!

I'm super excited. September is Comic Book Month at Auckland Libraries, which means we get a whole month to celebrate one of my favourite storytelling formats. There's plenty to sink your teeth into, with competitions and events galore.

Show off your art skills and enter our create a character competition. There are some great prizes up for grabs in four age groups, which means that anyone can enter. That amazing picture to the left is of last year's winner, and we've used it on our posters and fliers - so not only are there prizes on offer, but fame too is up for grabs!

If art isn't your thing, and you just want to get reading, all you need to do to enter our other competition is borrow five comics, graphic novels, or manga. You'll go in the draw to win a cool prize, and the top 5 readers in Auckland will also get their hands on some goodies.

There's more information about these competitions and events on our website, or you can come into the library and ask your friendly neighbourhood librarian! Keep tuned throughout September for comics recommendations and reviews.

Making a name for themselves

This "modern" trend for giving children ludicrous or unique names is hardly new, despite what they tell us.

Admittedly not many people in times past would have come up with LaFawwnduh, but some poor kids were landed with Fear-God-and-Be-Thankful, Armagil and Notwithstanding - and that doesn't include the very frequent use of surnames as first names. Or the trend to name kids after places, saints or Roman senators. Uncumber, anyone?

What all this is leading to (finally!) is a celebration of the most unusual names in fiction. They are an art-form in themselves. Charles Dickens and Ian Fleming, in particular, are responsible for some of the most melodious and appropriate names in the English language. Who could forget Wackford Squeers, Uriah Heep and Pussy Galore? Terry Pratchett is another. I personally love Windle Poons.

In fact, I discovered there's even a word for a name that matches a person's character, like Squire Allworthy, Mistress Malaprop and all those other characters from eighteenth-century literature. It's an aptronym, or charactonym.

Learn something every day.

Here's a list to roll off your tongue in a dull moment. Have fun - and see if you can remember any more.

Awaited sequels finally arrive in my hands

Ever finish a new book and can't wait to get your hands on the sequel? For me it is one of the painful pleasures of reading, getting to the end of the great book and knowing that the sequel is still months, or possibly years, away.

I have just finished two sequels that I have been eagerly anticipating since midway through last year. I had that delicious excitement when they both arrived at the same time, and I couldn't decide which to read first, so I read them both alongside one another - dipping into each one and reading a few chapters at a time, trying to eek out enjoyment factor.

One sequel far exceeded expectations - truth be told, I enjoyed it significantly more than the first book - and the other sequel, well, it wasn't so much that I enjoyed it as just kept reading it to find out what happened as the storyline was interesting, and I am curious to see what the third book holds.

However, now that I have finished these two books, I find myself back where I began, with another (at least) year-long wait for the anticipated ending of the trilogies.

There are a couple of titles that I am *still* waiting to see the long-awaited second book of the trilogy written and published, let alone the third book. The book I am now most eagerly awaiting is the sequel to The Passage by Justin Cronin. The second book, Twelve, has been delayed for publication once already (originally meant to be published last year), however the publisher is stating that it is definitely coming this year, so we have it on order, and my fingers are crossed that it really is going to happen!

Are there any sequels that you are hanging out to read, or any that you are still waiting for the second book to be published (or even written)?