DPL Teens

This title jumped right out at me when I was browsing for a new book to read out at the Fairmount Street Library.  When I pulled it off the shelf, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the cheerful High-School-Musical-esque cover art — clean-cut teens smiling the biggest smiles possible under the the very large words “CASTRATION CELEBRATION.”  When I realized that the book is by the same guy who wrote the hilarious (and surprisingly heartfelt) story Spanking Shakespeare, I was hooked. 

The story is fairly straightforward — Olivia has sworn off men since she walked in on her dad cheating on her mom with one of his students.  She’s attending a prestigious drama camp at Yale for the summer, and determines to write a musical condemning the idiot males in her life.  Her end product is “Castration Celebration,” a musical that chronicles Dick and Jane’s attempt to have a happy relationship, despite Dick falling prey to the classic male pitfalls — other girls. 

If you’ve ever wondering what High School Musical might be like if all the songs were about sex, then you will certainly want to check out the book Castration Celebration. Here’s a sampling of the songs that Olivia writes for the musical:

From Unlucky in Love:

“I fell for Mel / His smell cast a spell / But oh it was hell / Let me tell you / When I found him in bed / With a fellow named Fred / Said he wanted to try something new”

From I’m in Love with Dick:

“Before I got to know him, I wondered if we’d click / Now I know for sure that I’m in love with Dick”

From I Saw My Parents Having Sex:

“You may say it’s scientific / Let me tell you, it’s horrific / I know it’s how I came to be / But it’s not something I should see / There is nothing quite so gruesome / As my parents in a twosome”

And here’s a video by the author of the song I just quoted “I Saw My Parents Having Sex”:

Funny stuff from a supremely funny author.  But this book is more than just a sex-filled castration party — it’s filled with fully realized characters who are surprising, witty, and thoroughly engaging.  If you like your books hilarious and a little edgy, then you will not want to miss this one.

- Sam

Still thinking about boating but want to do something different?  hmm.  well, how about trying your hand at sailing?  and,  yes — Sailing really is a sport!!.

So, what do you need to sail?  mmm, water.  wind.  a boat.  what – no boat?  well, that is a problem!!  Do you don’t think you want to invest in an expensive sail boat until you decide if you really like it?  Don’t blame you.  Here’s what I’d do first — watch a few sailing movies.

I like White Squall with Jeff Bridges.  It’s based on a true story about a sailing prep school that has some …   well..   interesting things happen at sea.

Another sort of fun sailing movie is Captain Ron with Kurt Russell.  This is not based on a true story.  But it is pretty funny and takes place aboard a sailboat!!

Read a couple of books.    Maybe these:

Now — you’ve watched it, you’ve read about it …   how about you try it? Call up Lake Davenport Sailing Club to find out about lessons.   They supply the boats, the instructors, and you just need to show up and learn.   Well, after handing over a little green.

Then you can start thinking  about buying a boat……

—  angie

I Get Knocked Down… – For more funny movies, click here

This vid has nothing to do with anything. But it made us laugh. And cringe. Love the bulls. Oh yeah, tomorrow night: Teen Volunteer Council & Gaming 5:30 @ Fairmount. It will be the last meetin’ of the season for TVC. And we may or may not be, but most definitely will be, making edible sculptures. But you probably won’t want to eat them…but you probably will anyway…funs.

-Christie

If you’re like me as the days are getting longer and warmer your thoughts are turning toward water sports.   What better way to spend a hot Sunday afternoon than on the water – or in the water if that’s the way it turns out!  There are so many options — power boating, skiing, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing – and the combinations are endless!!   One of my new favorites is kayaking.   Relatively cheap and easy, you can get on the water with just a boat, a paddle and a pfd.  They don’t weigh much so you can carry it easily, you can buy little foam blocks to carry it on the top of most cars.  So, truly, there is no excuse not to get out on the water.

Want more information?  Start with a couple of good books:

Talk to a few people.  Grab a friend (never paddle alone!!).   And start on a quiet lake.

–angie