the somewhat bilingual reader's dilemma

I have been semi-seriously contemplating embarking precipitously on a seat-of-my-pants translation of Emil i Lönneberga by Astrid Lindgren. A classic of equal proportions to Pippi Longstocking, it hasn't been translated to English since the 1950's. In fact, it was all out of print until recently; I was all excited to find a new paperback in the bookstore, wishing to mail it to baby-aged English-speaking relatives of mine, only to crack it open and find it was the 50's translation. And it sucks. I mean, it's not wrong, it's just really dated. In Swedish Lindgren's prose has a fresh and lively, energetic, mischievous, elastic quality: youthful, playful, easy, and natural. This translation was probably going for that, but was stiff, dated, and coy. Perhaps it sounded better in the 50's, but I'm sorry I sent an antique edition of that mess to my cousin Perrin a few years ago. I'm sure I could do a better job, but if they've already reprinted their old one I think it unlikely that whoever owns the rights would want to buy it off me. But on the other hand (or the other other hand?), it's better to start where you've got some inspiration. And at least I could email it to my baby acquaintances in a worst-case scenario. There's also the separate issue of my irrational lack of confidence of late. But since I'm running out of furniture to paint I have to do something. Something other than shop for oven cleaner.

philosophical questions for the ages: fake silver tarnish.

I have this really pretty delicate silver and turqoise Navajo ring from my favourite aunt - tiny turquoise beads set back in a narrow band amidst delicate engraved patterns. Yesterday this thin coat of plasticky stuff peeled off of one end of it, taking a bead with it! It was like glue-cum-fake-tarnish, because the little lines of black from inside the patterns came off too, etched right on the clear surface of the nail-polish-like stuff. It doesn't look bad without the tarnish lines or anything, so it's not a really big deal, but I'm kind of baffled. I guess it might be easier to use fake tarnish? But couldn't you just dip the silver in some kind of chemical to age the surface, then wipe gently over the top with another one to make it shiny again? Who needs black paint and clear nail polish (or whatever it is)?