As part of my continuing education program, I took a spinning course this Saturday. I have no interest in actually spinning out any significant or useful quantity of wool, but I have wanted to understand the process for quite some time.

A fresh rowing is on the left, my first, rather indifferent, attempt is in the middle and a little bit more tolerable sample from this morning is on the right. I have since misplaced the spindle (well, I put it somewhere the boys can’t get at it but I can’t remember where).

The class was interesting. Did you know that the Sleeping Beauty is actually a story about tetanus? I wonder what all the other Grimm fairytales are about. I wonder is there exists one of those lecture series on CD about that.

Anyhow, due to general business a few months ago, I was late with my Canada Reads 2011. To my advantage, I have read one of the contenders, Unless, a few years back, so I was technically ahead. I started reading The Best Laid plans a week before and only got half way through the book by the time the contest was held. I am glad this book won, it is hilarious! I have since also read Essex County and I have enjoyed it. I felt that it was treated unfairly in the contest, being voted off first because it is a comic book. It has a teenagey sadness element to it which would stop me from recommending it to just anyone, but it is definitely a worth while read.