Today we took Thing Two for his first visit to the zoo so he could meet the animals from his favorite picture books. (Thing One had other all-day plans.) He insisted on walking (no stroller, no carrying, thank you!) and was worn out after about one hour. Some animals, including the hippos and the lions, were napping, partially hidden in their habitats. Others (the mini horses and the giraffes) were out in the open and really caught Thing Two’s interest. The tigers were also asleep but a zoo docent showed Thing Two a tiger pelt to pet and he watched a short video about the newest baby tiger. Elephants and bears are other favorites but Thing Two was very tired after the tiger exhibit. We still had a long walk back to the car, so we decided to save the rest of the animals for another visit. The zoo is full of play areas, both outdoor and indoor (in keeping with our climate) and we look forward to exploring those in the future, too.

Researching family history has been a pursuit for both sides of Team Gimlet. (Your humble narrator spent a good portion of a family European vacation wandering through graveyards.) However, despite years of diligent research by several family members, the origin of The Gimlet’s family and how and when they immigrated to the United States has remained a mystery … until now! (You knew that was coming, right?)

In December 2006, a genetics lab affiliated with the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (Relative Genetics) ran a test of The Gimlet’s Y chromosome. With the test, his results were placed in a database for genealogists to compare their results. Earlier this month, The Gimlet was contacted by Leo, who informed him that their results were a close match. Leo introduced The Gimlet to Paul (who shares the Gimlet family name, though spelled differently), and Paul’s DNA match is also very close. | …continue reading What’s in your DNA?

The wood trim installation is going much more quickly than we planned. Thanks to our neighbor, who lent us his pneumatic nail gun, we were able to finish the trim in the family room in just two days. The west bedroom and work room should be completed soon, too. It’s surprising how well trim can show off contrasting wall and ceiling colors, and the fireplace surround benefits from a border as well. We’re very happy with how the room is turning out, and perhaps it is a testament to seventeen years of wedded bliss that we worked together on the trim with said nail gun, yet successfully refrained from using it on each other.

This morning I upgraded WordPress (our blog software) to version 2.2 and it seems to be allergic to certain characters: apostrophes, accents, em-dashes, and others. This is a small blog, but there are still nearly a year’s worth of posts to correct by hand, so it will take some time before the blog is back to normal.

ETA: I think I’ve repaired all the garbled characters, but please post in the comments if you find any I’ve missed. Thanks.

The title references the charming poem: The Junior High School Band Concert by David Wagoner (1999), featured on a recent Writer’s Almanac.

The school year is finally wrapping up in our area, bringing with it the inevitable displays of student progress, whether they be science fairs, model museums, or, in our case, concerts. Thing One is very fortunate to attend a school with a top-ranked music program which consistently sweeps the awards at regional competitions. Not only are we happy that he’s getting such a good musical education, but it also makes the concerts a pleasure to attend. The performances range from mostly painless to surprisingly good. (We think one unnamed section may have mixed up their sheet music and kept playing Shostakovich during a Tchaikovsky piece, but still — mostly painless.)

The end of the year concert was held at a newly remodeled high school. This school is also known for its excellent music and drama programs, and the new theatre is a jewel box of green and gold (the school colors). The Junior Orchestra (Thing One’s group) played Handel’s Concerto Grosso, Op. 6, No. 9 in F and Brahms’ Hungarian Dance #5. Two Senior Orchestra soloists were particularly outstanding: the bassist playing the allegro moderato of Antonio Capuzzi’s Concerto for Bass in F major and the cellist for Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, who received a well-deserved standing ovation.

As the musicians concentrated on their art, it was hard to remember they were all 11-13 year-olds. At the end, they milled about in the lunchroom/lobby area: ties loosened, munching on cookies from the bake sale, collecting instruments, bouquets, and hugs, all see-saw voices and unsteady in their dress shoes. One could almost dismiss them as ordinary pre-teens once again, were it not for the school’s motto in large letters across one wall: What I am to be, I am now becoming.

For the first time, the staircase has a nicotine-free, even color and no longer looks like it belongs in a horror movie. The family room glows with its new coat of paint as well. It’s already a very inviting space. While finishing the electrical work in the family room, The Gimlet questioned his sanity for setting up so many outlets, lights with dimmer switches, and speaker wires, but now that it’s done he looks forward to using them. We finally settled on a plan for the bar area and the cabinets and counter will be installed before the carpet is laid. The Gimlet says that the space above the fireplace is begging to be filled with a ginormous television, but KILZ has made him hear things before, so we’re not heading out to the store just yet. Instead, yesterday we purchased all the wood trim; as with the first floor remodel, The Gimlet will use the family room as a staging area to paint it, then install sills, door and window frames, crown molding, and baseboards in the finished rooms.

It’s so exciting to be in the final stages of this project; after finishing a set of rooms it’s a little difficult to re-motivate and repeat the messy business of mudding, taping, and painting for the remaining two (only two!) rooms.

For some fun, check out This Old House’s Home Inspection Nightmares galleries.

A delightful post by Ardis Parshall on the Times & Seasons blog chronicles the literary and dramatic phenomenon of Corianton. Today he’s best known as a minor Book of Mormon character, but in the late 19^th century his brief mention in scripture inspired two novels. When these novels came to the attention of Orestes Utah Bean, a thespian with more self-confidence than ability, the result was, in the words of one critic:

“He thought it might have been an Elks Club initiation, he said, but the Elks denied this, saying that [they] would not require anything so rough.”

The saga of Corianton is a funny and sad reminder that some things never seem to change, particularly as regards LDS cinema. Nevertheless:

Its intrinsic merits may be such that it deserves to lie in obscurity. However, “Corianton” deserves an honored place in our history as the first popular Mormon stageplay, the first Mormon dramatic work presented to a curious if unimpressed non-Mormon world, and the first commercial Mormon movie.

Agreed! Luckily, BYU’s Special Collections has found a copy of the 1931 film, Corianton: A Story of Unholy Love, and digital restoration is underway. I’m looking forward to watching the finished product (and becoming acquainted with Bunny Welden’s Greenwich Village Dancers) .

ETA: I love on-line used book stores! A copy of the playbook, Corianton, an Aztec Romance. A Romantic Spectacular Drama in Four Acts, is on its way. Even the title needs editing. This promises to be fun.

Now that you’ve had plenty of time to read up on Regency fashion, it’s quiz time: my corset is ready to show off. Click on the small photo to see front and back pictures on The Fitting Room dressmaker’s form and laid flat at home. The outer fabric is silk brocade, a white floral design on white background. The close-up photos should give an idea of the pattern and show off some of the stitching along the bodice. The inner fabric is white cotton coutil. The wooden busk slides into an inside front center pocket, where it is tied in place. Drawstrings adjust the bodice line and shoulder straps. All these smaller strings are made of thin cord, but can easily be switched out for prettier satin ribbon if I choose.

The Fitting Room’s signature ribbon is stitched around the inner waistline, conveniently indicating where the lacing should be looped so that the wearer can tighten up or adjust the corset herself. Most genuine Regency corsets were laced with the single lacing style rather than crossed, but the crossed style is supposed to be easier to manage without assistance. Single or crossed, I’m glad I have all summer to practice getting in and out of the corset and adjusting the fit. It’s not terribly tricky, but it does take getting used to.

To care for the corset, it may be rolled up or folded (keeping it in a pillowcase is a good idea), then stored in a drawer. After the corset has been worn, it should be opened and left out for 24 hours before storing so perspiration and other body oils have a chance to dry. This corset can’t be washed, but Dryel® Stain Remover and Febreeze® Fabric Refresher™ are safe to use and recommended if needed.

Many thanks to Marie of The Fitting Room. This garment has been exquisitely crafted and is so beautiful. Almost a shame that it will be hidden from view!

Understandably, “Thing” is a loaded term at GimletBlog, so first we must state that there is no Thing Three on the way. (Thing Two is very relieved.) Today we’re introducing LibraryThing to the blog sidebar! As per their web site description, LibraryThing helps bibliophiles create an on-line catalog of their books. Users can meet and connect with like-minded collectors; read, write, and share reviews; receive reading recommendations, and more.

Click on a book cover to see its Amazon.com page. A random set of book covers from the GimletLibrary is generated each time you visit the blog (or refresh your web browser). Click on the words “my library” to browse through the our library, and scroll waaaay down the sidebar to the pink LibraryThing button to view Team Gimlet’s LibraryThing profile.

Thanks to Linda for introducing us to LibraryThing, and we hope to see you (and your books) there!

This year’s JASNA Annual General Meeting will take place early October in Vancouver, British Columbia. The theme is “Discovering Emma in Vancouver.” See JASNA’s web site for registration information, a list of lectures and tours, and more. British Columbia is one of Team Gimlet’s favorite (and easily accessible) getaways: our touristy plans include Granville Island, the UBC Museum of Anthropology, and at least one lunch at Mr. Pickwick’s. This will be my first JASNA AGM: with true newbie enthusiasm, the daily programs look very interesting and enough to stay busy. I’m also eager to meet other Janeites. New York City proved to be a large enough town to handle a pair of rabid Northanger Abbey fans, but will Vancouver be up to the challenge? | …continue reading Vancouver in October: how delightful!