Christmas Mice

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Annie Neugebauer

Originally posted on December 13, 2010 at 2:45 PM

When it comes to Christmas animals, there’s one clear-cut winner in my book: Christmas mice.

The deciding factors of what makes an animal “Christmasy” could be up for grabs, so I’ll share my list: reindeer, donkeys, lambs, owls, swans, polar bears, penguins, kittens, puppies, mice, small birds (doves, cardinals, etc.), and woodland creatures (squirrels, hedgehogs, foxes, moose).

Donkeys and lambs count because of the nativity. Polar bears and penguins count because of Coke commercials. Reindeer ‘cause of Santa. Owls and woodland creatures because of winter décor, birds because of ornaments, kittens and puppies because of how cute they look as presents in stockings or with a big bow, and mice because of “The Night Before Christmas.” Frogs don’t count because they have no tie-in. Same with Kangaroos.

Some of you might be wondering why my personal favorite would be mice instead of kittens. The answer is simple: kittens are a year-round joy for me. Mice, although always cute, are simply cuter and more prominent during Christmas. Same with owls and penguins: I love them, but they’re almost always in the spotlight. Mice get one time a year to be fully recognized for all of their adorable squee-worthiness, and Christmas is it.

There’s something very sweet and endearing to me about the idea of a little mouse celebrating Christmas. “’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” All snug in his lil mouse bed. Aww.

Mice are unassuming. They don’t ask for much. They don’t want attention or presents or even to be invited to the party. They just want to hang around and nibble a few of the crumbs left unwanted. They’re adorable with their oversized ears and their wiggly little noses. Dark, expressive eyes and whiskers just like a kitty. Put them in a nightgown holding an old-fashioned candlestick or wrapped up in a scarf and overcoat, and the cuteness meter suddenly bursts. They’re just that sweet. Bottom line: mice are always nice, but Christmas mice are twice as nice.

Here’s hoping this Christmas (or winter, or whatever) finds you with several nice little mice tucked away in quiet corners.

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To Overcome

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Annie Neugebauer

Originally posted on December 10, 2010 at 7:30 PM

This past Sunday, I went with Mom-in-Law to watch Hub-a-Dub run the White Rock Marathon in Dallas. Now, I’ve never had much interest in running. As I tell Kyle, I pretty much only run if I’m being chased. But what surprised me the most about being at the event was how emotional it made me. I almost cried about a dozen times. Seriously.

Like so many women are (and some men, too, although studies show that women are generally more so inclined than men), I’ve always been a very empathetic person. I’m one of those people who tends to make the facial expression of the person I’m talking to. It’s not that I’m making fun of them; it’s that I’m concentrating so hard on what they’re saying and trying to understand where they’re coming for that I end up mimicking them. It’s the same reason I cry in silly TV shows and hate it when my loved ones feel sad: I feel it too. Always have.

It was the same at the marathon. As we were hanging out around the sixteen mile marker waiting for Kyle to run by, I couldn’t help but look at the faces of the strangers running. Up until that moment, honestly, I’d dismissed them all as overzealous lunatics (in a friendly way). But seeing the determination, the exhaustion, the heartbreak, and the triumph in their faces as they trudged by – some of them barely walking – I couldn’t help but feel it all too. It was like I suddenly understood.

 

Now, everyone who runs marathons runs for different reasons. Some people do it to get themselves into shape, some people do it to prove something, some people do it as a lifestyle, some people run to support or promote a cause, and some people (as crazy as it seems) just do it for fun. But the type of person I really connected with were the people who looked like they were doing it to create and overcome an obstacle in their life.

At first, it seemed crazy to me. But then I realized that not all people have been through what I’ve been through, and not all people have the “life” goals I have. I do remember a time when I was about 12-15 that I longed for something dramatic to happen to test me as a person. I wanted life to throw something at me so I could prove myself. It might sound silly, but it wasn’t silly. It was a natural desire to grow. I think, just maybe, that some people who run marathons run because either 1) their life is too ‘easy’ and ‘happy’ to challenge their strength, or 2) they have such horrible things going on that they can’t overcome them, and they need something hard but possible to overcome to feel better. Those both make perfect sense to me, and in spite of the insanity and risks of running a marathon (especially if you aren’t smart about it), I approve.

For people who battle depression – and I guess anyone, really – it’s important to occasionally conquer a goal to gain a sense of achievement. Now I personally have such lofty full-time goals and a difficult enough life that I would never dream of using something as strenuous as a marathon to fulfill that need. (I like easy things, like getting to the top of a climbing wall or baking a new recipe.) But for other people, I could see how it might really work. So much so that I teared up as they ran by, and I couldn’t help but cheer for them to accomplish their goal. Run on, you lunatics, run on. (Not you, Hub-a-Dub. Please stop.)

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Vampires and Zombies, part II: the popularization of vampires (in western culture)

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Annie Neugebauer

Originally posted on December 17, 2010 at 3:15 PM

When I say “vampire,” you most likely think Twilight, Dracula, and maybe Anne Rice. But the truth is, there are dozens more authors that have made vampires what they are today. Let’s make it simple. I’ve compiled a timeline of almost 300 years of what I see to be the most genre-changing (and genre-creating) literature about vampires. (And yes, I have read almost all of these.) I’ll explain specifics below.

• 1748 “The Vampire,” poem by Heinrich August Ossenfelder
• 1773 “Die Braut von Corinth” (“The Bride of Corinth”;), poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• 1800 “Christabel,” unfinished poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
• 1813 “The Giaour,” poem by Lord Byron
• 1819 “The Vampyre,” short story originally attributed to Lord Byron but actually by John Polidori
• 1845 to 1847 Varney the Vampire, vampire mini-series originally published in the Penny Dreadfuls., attributed to James Malcolm Rymer or Thomas Preskett Prest
• 1847 Wuthering Heights, novel by Emily Bronte
• 1872 Carmilla, novella by Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu
• 1897 Dracula, famous novel by Bram Stoker
• 1954 I am Legend, novel by Richard Matheson
• 1976 The Vampire Chronicles series (Interview with the Vampire) by Anne Rice
• 1978 Hôtel Transylvania novel by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
• 1993 Anita Blake series (Guilty Pleasures, The Laughing Corpse) by Laurell K. Hamilton’s
• 2001 Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire series (Dead Until Dark) by Charlaine Harris
• 2004 Rachel Morgan series (Dead Witch Walking) by Kim Harrison
• 2005 Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer

As you can see, vampire frenzy started up in western Europe in the mid-1700’s. Myths and superstitions from other cultures suddenly took the forefront in places like England and Germany, and believe it or not, there was a real historic vampire-crisis – not unlike the witch trials around 1600. People became so paranoid they actually dug up dead family members and staked them. Crazy much?

Anywho, this fear played well into creative minds, and it wasn’t long before poets and short-storyists were churning out the frights. Lord Byron, a popular and flamboyant figure of the early 1800’s, wrote a poem that mentioned vampires, which was quickly capitalized upon by his physician with a short story titled, “The Vampyre.” Byron was something like a modern-day movie star, and his paparazzi instantly recognized him as the central character in Polidori’s work. This was the beginning of vampires being sauve and sexy rather than disgusting and fearsome. In fact, many scholars use the term “Byronesque” to describe the archetype of the charming vampire (or any dark, brooding hero with destructive tendencies, a la Jean-Claude or Edward Cullen).

Books took longer to spread, back then. As the popularity of “Byron’s” story grew, other artists once again capitalized on the opportunity: The Penny Dreadfuls – sort of a cheap periodical with slasher stories – began to put out a mini-series about vampires, and although not of the best quality (actually, they’re frightfully bad), they sold like gold. It is safe to say that “vampire” was a well-known term in England by 1845. Very well known.

Some of you may have noticed that I included Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights in the timeline. Although not a traditional vampire story, I would argue that it is indeed about vampires, and written by a woman who knew exactly what she was doing. It’s too in-depth of an argument to post here, but I also believe that Ms. Bronte most likely influenced the infamous Bram Stoker some fifty years later.

But alas, it is Stoker who remains cemented most permanently into this history of vampires. Like it or not, Dracula was the first novel-length work published in English that had a clearly-stated vampire character. It was not hugely successful at first, although very well-received. Critics praised it and readers loved it, but it did not gain the notoriety it has today until movie versions started coming out in the late 1900’s. And important to note here: the vampire, although a count in a gloomy castle, was the villain.

Vampires didn’t make waves again until Richard Matheson’s I am Legend came out in 1954. This is a hugely, hugely important book. It was the first popular piece to turn vampirism into a scientific phenomenon not based on magic. In Matheson’s novella, vampirism was a bacteria that spread as a disease. It was also one of the first disease-based apocalypse novels, and interestingly enough, it shaped the zombie genre significantly more than the vampire one… but I’ll talk more about that in the popularization of zombies.

Perhaps the reason the apocalypse concept didn’t take hold with vampires was due to the popularity of Anne Rice’s series just twenty years later. She went back more toward a Byronesque character, and her most notable contribution to the genre: the vampire was the protagonist. In Interview with a Vampire, Rice explores the deeper themes of vampirism through her vampires Louis & Lestat: loneliness, morality, mortality, humanity, etc. This series is no easy read; Rice takes us through history and philosophy and the darker side of human nature.

In the late 70’s and early 80’s, several individual vampire novels came out, but I find Hôtel Transylvania by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro worth mentioning specifically for one reason: it was a romance. Anne Rice might have had some romantic themes going, but Yarbro was the first to popularize the full-on vampire/human love story. You may thank her later.

Vampires remained in popular culture, in the background for the most part, until the 90’s rolled around with the awesomely fabulous Laurell K. Hamilton. Her Anita Blake series changed not just the vampire genre, but the shelves of bookstores to this day. She was the first, most successful author to put out such a genre-bending series (horror, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, romance… what is it?) that readers couldn’t get enough of. She got rejected for her first novel in the series for YEARS before someone took a chance on her. And aren’t they happy now, counting their money in their mansion on the top of a mountain somewhere?

From then on, publishers started suddenly requesting “Hamilton-esque” vampire series, with werewolves, fairies, and monsters thrown in. In my opinion, this made possible the Sookie Stackhouses, Rachel Morgans, and yes, even the Bella Swans of today’s literary landscape.

Be sure to check out the other posts in the series:

Vampires and Zombies, part I: introduction

Vampires and Zombies, part III: the popularization of zombies (in western culture)

Vampires and Zombies, part IV: compare and contrast

Vampires and Zombies, part V: surviving the living dead

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A Perfect Holiday Lighting Guidebook That All Must Follow or be Doomed

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Annie Neugebauer

Originally posted on December 3, 2010 at 3:00 PM

 

November 1st – Thanksgiving = lights can go up but cannot be on

It is not Christmas yet. If you must decorate early because of scheduling, anal-retentiveness, or general overabundance of spirit: at least refrain from turning the lights on. It’s not fair to Thanksgiving if Christmas steals its thunder.

“Black Friday” – New Year’s Eve = lights can be on

Thanksgiving is over; Christmas has officially begun. Feel free to deck the halls and cheer the street.

New Year’s Day – January 31st = lights can be up but cannot be on

I actually think the lights should go off the day after Christmas, but some people like to leave them up for New Year’s parties, so I’m being lenient. I understand procrastination, but at least take your lights off the timer/unplug them. That’s not hard at all. Seriously.

February 1st – November 1st = lights cannot be up

I will personally hunt you down.

*Now, you might be wondering, “But… who makes these rules?” Clearly, I do. Happy – and technically correct timing for your – holidays!

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Support Local Poetry

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Annie Neugebauer

Originally posted on November 22, 2010 at 2:20 PM

The Denton Poets’ Assembly just celebrated 5 years! Yay! Happy anniversary, DPA!

I must say, I’m not one for mushy stuff. But when I moved from Austin to Denton to live with hub-a-dub, I hated it. I love hub-a-dub, but I hated Denton with a passion. When people would say conversational things like, “So, how are you liking it here so far?” I felt like reaching out and strangling them with my bare hands as I stomped on their feet and spit on the ground shouting, “I HATE IT HERE, DAMN IT. CURSES TO YOU ALL!” Okay, so maybe that’s a bit much, but I would shrug and say, “I’m still getting used to it.” Truth was, I didn’t think I’d ever be ‘used to it.’

That is, until I stumbled upon the Denton Poets’ Assembly. From the first time I went three years ago, I knew it was a group I wanted to be a part of. No matter that I was about 35 years younger than the average age or that my poetry was about vastly different things than most, they welcomed me with true enthusiasm and acceptance. It was going to that meeting each month that first made me feel like there was something in this town for me – that I might someday want to call this home.

Not only that, but it was DPA who encouraged me to start submitting my work to contests and publications. It was J. Paul Holcomb, the group’s mentor, who inspired me to start learning and writing in traditional poetic forms in any real way. It was a few special ladies who invited me into their small critique group and encouraged my confidence and pursuit of this passion I have. I count all of the members of DPA among my friends, and several of them among my closest. Thank you, Denton Poets’ Assembly, for all you’ve done for me. How ever did I get so lucky?

So it’s with true enthusiasm that I tell you all now about our newest fundraiser, which is easier and cooler than any fundraiser I’ve ever heard of. You shop on Amazon.com, yes? You plan on buying Christmas gifts there this year, yes? Well, perhaps you could add one extra click to that process. If you first go through our website and click to Amazon that way (just click the banner at the top of the page), between 4 and 15% of what you buy during that shopping trip will go to our organization. That money supports cool things like the Merging Visions Exhibit we participate in each year. Gift cards, books, home wares, DVDs, etc. all count, and once you click on our link it’s just like shopping on Amazon regularly, no extra cost to you. That’s it, seriously – no extra work. One click. We’d be much obliged.

This blog has been long enough, so I’ll bid you all farewell, good poetry, and happy shopping. (Tell your friends!)

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