In that book which is My memory...

Goodreads

2011-08-26T14:42:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to take a moment to plug my goodreads page. I'm gearing up to review a massive amount of books (all that I've read since April) in the next month or so. If you love YA fiction, you're going to love what is coming. My real passion is reading (not blogging, but you probably already guessed that with my lackluster blogs), so come on over and check it out.

Literally

2011-08-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

The necessary background:

My parents watch our son for us while we are at work during the day. They live in the country and have many neighbors with farm animals. They frequently take walks with our son to visit the animals and they know many of them by name, including a cow named Grace.

The story:

A few days ago we were going through the normal bedtime routine for our two-year-old. One of the last things we do is say bed-time prayers. It was my husband’s turn to pray (we switch off) and he said something along the lines of, “and we thank You for Your grace…” Our son interjected, “grace go?” which is his way of asking where something is, in this case, grace. My husband stopped mid-prayer to try to explain God’s grace and how it works to forgive our sins to a toddler. Deacon listened attentively. I don’t know how my husband felt, but I felt pretty pleased with the reception he was getting and I was thinking that maybe some of it was getting through. …Until my husband finished and Deacon said, “Grace is a COW.”

And we couldn’t argue with that. Yes, yes, she is. And now he probably thinks she can forgive our sins AND chew her cud.

I cannot help but love how literal kids are.

Two things...

2011-08-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

1. dear caller,

don't call me and then ask if you can put me on hold. no, you can't. YOU called ME.

2. dear person,

when i can smell your perfume outside at 10 yards away upwind, chances are you're putting too much on.

A fine line.

2011-08-09T15:30:00.001-07:00

Until yesterday, I had no idea what a fine line there was between courteous and creepy for grocery store baggers.

Courteous
Male Bagger (mid 30's):
"Can I help you out with your groceries?"

Me:
"No, thank you."

Creepy
Male Bagger (mid-30's)
"Are you sure? I'd really like to help you out."

Me:
(Hmmm, let me think: Am I sure that I don't want a creepy man walking me out to my car trying to make conversation with me for ten excruciating minutes while I pray he doesn't say, or do, anything else creepy that forces me to wave the wedding ring on my hand in front of his face or pull the mace out of my purse. That's a tough one.)

"Yes, I'm really sure. No, thank you."

Imperfect

2011-08-08T09:34:00.001-07:00

The fact that I can see cellulite on Selena Gomez' leg here DELIGHTS me.
(click the photo to enlarge)

STARS: They ARE just like us!

It's as glorious as soaring through a sunset...

2011-08-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

I bought this Onna Erlich handbag on Monday. I bought it partly because my current black handbag is over 5 years old, I've been wanting a new one forever and I was able to get this for 70% off, partly because I'm back at work now after my customary month off in the summer and I needed the boost to my morale and partly, because I can't help but feel that it's going to revolutionize my life and make all my dreams come true. (I don't feel like this is too much to ask from a purse that normally retails for $650. Who's with me?)

(Bonus if you know the books/movie I'm quoting from in the post title.)

Vintage Truck Party

2011-05-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

Someone totally awesome turned 2 last month and we celebrated.

Fighting a Losing Battle

2011-01-25T14:55:00.000-08:00

We have been locked in a battle with our cat, Griffin, since the day we brought our son home from the hospital. It’s unclear, at this point, who is winning, although I suspect it isn’t us. Griffin has always been a “talker”. Yes, occasionally it was too much, but not very often. And he would run to greet me at the door when I got home from work and then snuggle up next to me on the couch while I read in the evenings. He loved his tummy rubbed and would chirp his happiness. So what if he occasionally became anxious about a change to his schedule and would lick a bald spot on the inside of one of his back legs. I would regal co-workers with tales of my neurotic cat. They would chuckle and I would shake my head in mock aggravation. Then, we had a baby…and taking an immediate, and permanent, back-seat to a squalling lump of swaddling blankets did not sit well with Griffin. His meows turned up a notch, then another, and another until we found ourselves whisper yelling at him to “SHUT UP” while Deacon napped. We kept telling ourselves he would adjust. People, it’s 21 months later and nothing has changed. I think we need to face the facts, it’s not going to. But, I’m not willing to give him up yet. He’s such a good cat underneath all that loud, terribly annoying, incessant meowing during bedtime and naptime. So, here we are still engaged in battle. This morning, I lost. Our house is very small. We have two bedrooms and one bathroom and our bathroom is located between the two bedrooms. I have to get up pretty early for work and Deacon is still sleeping. I also have hair that requires blow-drying. I can’t do this in the bathroom without waking Deacon up. So, since I went back to work when Deacon was three months old, I have been doing my hair in our laundry room (the farthest room from his bedroom). My hair-care products have been moved there, along with my blow-dryer and curling iron and a mirror that I prop up on the clothes dryer. Sure, the light in there isn’t great, but I’ve adapted. Unfortunately, the cat’s litter box is also in there and Griffin won’t use it if someone is in the laundry room. Instead, he’ll sit at the doorway meowing until you leave. In the interest of keeping my child sleeping, I always vacate and let him do his business. It works out. But the last couple days, his meowing has been out of control and I’m sorry to admit he’s been spritzed with the water bottle a lot. I think he’s been harboring resentment. This morning, he waltzed in there and took his sweet time to drop a load and then, barely covered it, leaving noxious fumes floating all around where I needed to be to finish doing my hair. Round #1,782 goes to the cat.

Weaning

2011-01-24T14:23:00.000-08:00

Before I had a child, if you had told me that I'd be working full-time and still manage to breastfeed not only to the year mark, but beyond, I would have thought you were crazy. Instead, here we are: Deacon is 21 months old and I'm still nursing at night. And I'm proud of this. He's been talking since he was 8 months old when he said his first word besides "mama" and "dada"; it was "bloo" (balloon) and I will always picture him saying it in the aisle at the Nugget Market as he looked up at a birthday balloon. He's only had one cold. And his favorite thing besides trucks: books! I'd go on record as being very pro-breastfeeding...I should be, for someone who had a very, VERY low pain tolerance, I suffered through eleven weeks of the worst pain and emotional trauma I've ever experienced to make breastfeeding a success. And although it's left scars (both literally and figuratively), it was worth it. Even though sometimes I wish I could have a cocktail with dinner instead of waiting until after his bedtime. And even though there are lots of other reasons why it's been a sacrifice (just one of many when you start having kids, right), it's still been worth it. Now, I do not plan to breastfeed indefinitely. (You will not see me on some Dateline special with my pre-teen hanging off my chest.) The official plan is to wean at two years (while I'm off work for Spring break), unless he weans himself first. And last night may have hinted towards this. He stopped nursing early and told me I was "quishy" and "limey" (squishy and slimy) and wouldn't nurse anymore. Clue number one that your child is ready for weaning: the gourmand requests a different (and impossible) texture.

Unbelievable

2011-01-14T08:37:00.000-08:00

As a working mom, I am always trying to juggle everything into some semblance of cohesion. If any of you have mastered this yet, please tell me your secrets. Also, as evidenced by my last post, I am on the look-out for some good working-mom friends (although where I would find the time to spend with them is something I haven't figured out yet). I think having another female who truly understands what it's like to work full-time, but still try to cook delicious meals and keep the house clean (and have people over for dinner sometimes or plan the occasional party - I have already started planning my son's 2nd birthday party in APRIL) is something that I really need. What I don't need is to read something like this post where Gwyneth Paltrow shares what it's like being a working mom. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You are a celebrity. You have assistants. You have nannies. You have a bazillion-million dollars. You are pathetic. Come and live my life for a week and then write your column, you ignorant douche. (The saving grace of the article is that it's written by someone who thinks it's as appalling as I do, albeit with a lot more colorful language.) Enjoy.

Letting go.

2010-11-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

I think I've stewed about this long enough. I'm ready to get it off my chest. No one involved even reads this (or knows about it; that would imply that they actually were interested enough in my life to care), but I think I'll feel better just by getting it out. And if by chance, one of the involved parties stumbled onto this by accident, fine with me. I'm sure my take on the situation will be skewed by hurt and anger, but as I haven't spoken with anyone else involved for almost a year (and don't plan on contacting them to find out what they thought), you'll just have to go with my side of the story.

I had some friends. They were good friends for a while through many church events, bridal showers, weddings, and countless baby showers. One of them was the maid of honor in my wedding. Then, something happened. I"m not sure what it was exactly, but I suspect part of it was simply, life.

And then it was my turn to have a baby shower. The friends planned it. And it was nice. But that was it. The other baby showers I helped throw (and sometimes, hand--washed 40 sets of antique china for) were extravagant. They were full of vintage details, hung banners, amassed glassware, linen tablecloths, and full teas for 40 served on china. I slaved at these showers. My shower boasted paper plates and cups, disposable tablecloths, and nary a vintage detail in sight. I was hurt, but I didn't say anything. Part of me wanted to attribute it to the fact that the friends were busy with children of their own. One was pregnant herself; I'm sure she was tired. This thinking helped me get [mostly] past my hurt feelings. Then, I had my baby and I thought I was going to die. Lots/most people have a great experience. Mine was jarring from the start when I needed an emergency C-section. Then, I had every breast-feeding issue known to man, along with various other personal issues. I felt alone and I couldn't leave the house because when I wasn't crying, I was pumping. (I suspect I had some post-partum depression.) Finally, (and I credit the Kaiser Permanente lactation consultants and God) things turned around...just in time for me to go back to my full-time job. This didn't hasten away any lingering sadness I felt. I coped as well as I could and spent every precious minute when I wasn't at work holding that darling baby. I wasn't willing to give up any of my free time for things like "half-hearted shower giving" friends, not that they were calling (or arranging meals to be brought. That task was undertaken by one of our guy friends. Yes, a GUY. And he did a great job.)

Come winter, one of the girls in the group got engaged. She was getting married hours away from where I lived on the weekend before Christmas. For many reasons, I knew we wouldn't be able to attend. I had a good conversation with her about this and made sure she knew I hoped she didn't feel obligated to ask me to be in her wedding. We parted happily. Then, via Facebook, I discovered that every one of our other friends was in her wedding. Don't get me wrong, I was happy to not be in her wedding. However, it would have been nice (in my opinion), if she had told me that everyone else was going to be in it. I would have felt left out anyway, but finding out on Facebook was like a slap in the face. Fast forward to her bridal shower weekend. Originally, there was just a Saturday shower which I was planning to attend. Then, the friends decided to throw together an intimate Friday night bachelorette party. I decided to forgo the Saturday shower and just attend the Friday night party the night before, mostly because I could go to this after my son was asleep for the night and I wouldn't miss any time with him. When I arrived (a little late as I told them I'd be after putting my son to sleep), no one, but the bride, acknowledged me. I felt invisible and unwanted. Then a game was played and we had to partner up. One of the friends asked to be my partner and I felt better because they were now including me. Until we won and she said, "I knew we would win. That's why I wanted to be partners with you." Thanks. I'm glad that's all I'm good for. I didn't stay very long after the gifts were opened. And that is the last time I've seen or spoken with the friends.

Not long after this, I learned that the shower they threw that Saturday was the most lavish one to date. Apparently, they weren't too busy to throw a shower for someone they cared about. I was hurt (then angry) for a long time after this, but I've come to realize many things in the past year. First, I don't think they were very good friends to begin with. On some level, I always knew the two of them had each other and the rest of us were just on the sidelines. I just never expected to get pushed completely off. Second, they are lucky enough to stay home with their children, something I've wanted ever since I can remember. Since we like being able to pay our mortgage every month, I must keep working until my husband gets a fantastic promotion, he finds a much higher paying job, we win the Publisher's Clearing house (which I enter every day), or I find a job where someone pays me to read. I think the friends must have no imagination because my having to work was something they never seemed to understand. And now, since I'm out of their lives they won't have to stretch themselves and try to understand it. That must be a relief to them. Third, I would much rather spend my free time with my husband and child than with friends who make me feel like they are judging me the whole time I am with them.

Nonetheless, the way they treated me still has the power to hurt sometimes. Like recently, when one of my co-workers ran into one of the friends at Pottery Barn and my co-worker mentioned me to her. And the friend didn't even acknowledge my name. I like to think I am above this type of behavior and past it all. I think I mostly am. It's a process and it's getting easier. I am hopeful that by this time next year, I will have gotten past the hurt and anger completely and moved on to some richer and truer friendships. But that doesn't mean the friends should expect a Christmas card from me.

More coming, but for now...

2010-11-17T15:39:00.001-08:00

And they lived happily ever after.

2010-06-10T13:39:00.001-07:00

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Conversation

2010-06-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

During dinner:

Me: "How is it? I used a new sloppy joe recipe."

Husband: "It's good, but the trouble with sloppy joes is that the filling squishes all out of the bun when you try to take a bite and it gets everywhere."

Me: "So what you are saying is that sloppy joes are too...sloppy?"

Husband: "Exactly."

Someone...

2010-02-22T09:58:00.001-08:00

Someone turned 10 months old yesterday.

Someone who is trying to corner the market on words that start with "b": balloon, book, bear, and others: shoes, hat, poop and of course, mama and dada. Someone who can moo like a cow and who I love more that I knew would be possible.

Sign Language

2010-01-08T08:20:00.000-08:00

We've been working on sign launguage pretty much since Deacon was born. He's got "milk" down, but doesn't need to use it very much. This is the second sign he's learned: the all-important "more." Plus, he's learning to feed himself. It's so much fun.

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8 Months

2009-12-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

Happy 8 months, monster and Merry first Christmas.
You're the best gift we've ever been given.

Getting Older

2009-12-07T08:44:00.001-08:00

Recently, I attended a lingerie shower for a friend who is getting married this month. Partly because I love the store and partly out of guilt because I can't attend her wedding, I went to Anthropologie for the lingerie. I found this eggplant silk number. As I was at the counter paying for it, the cashier said, "Isn't this the best?" I agreed. She continued, "It's a fraction of the price of our dresses, but you could totally wear it as a dress." Outwardly, I nodded my head, but my inner monologue went something like this, "That seems totally out of the question. Wait a minute. Am I so old that the thought of wearing a tissue paper thin, barely thigh skimming piece of lingerie as a dress seems totally preposterous? I think so. Sigh."

Dialogue

2009-12-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

Had you been in the car with us when we went to get groceries on Saturday, this is what you would have heard:

Tim: (motioning towards the car ahead of us as we sat stopped at the red light) "Look at the curly hair on that person in the back seat."

Me: "Oh my gosh. It looks like poodle hair."

Tim: (laughing) "You're right. It totally does. I wonder if it's naturally like that or if they perm it?"

A moment of silence follows as we sip our coffee and regard the hair.

Me: "Is that an old woman or a young boy?"

Tim: "I cannot tell."

...

We never did figure it out, but it sure was entertaining.

Thinking ahead

2009-10-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

I'm a planner. This is not as easy to do anymore now that I have a baby, but I find comfort in it. So, I cling to instances when I can, like planning ahead to send out our first Christmas cards as a real live family with a child. Photos taken: check.

6 Months

2009-10-21T09:15:00.001-07:00

Happy 6 months, monster. We couldn't love you more.

5 Months

2009-10-08T13:41:00.001-07:00

In case you are wondering how it's going...

this just about sums things up perfectly.

Everything is a wonder.

2009-08-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

I am LOVING being able to experience the world through the eyes of my son.

The Whole Enchilada

2009-08-25T22:05:00.000-07:00

I posted previously with a link to the sneak peak of the photos. Here are the finals. I love every one.

Why I didn't sleep soundly last night.

2009-08-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

dear wild animal,

allow me to repeat myself, dear WILD animal, you are wild. animals that are wild, usually live in the wild and not under my house as you have found it a good idea to do. neither my husband nor i appreciate your midnight scratchings as you claw your way up into our shower cavity no doubt building a nest and spreading your filthy germs all over our crawl space. equally unappreciative is our four month old son who, like us, does not appear overjoyed when the stench of your den is wafting into our bathroom and by extension all our bedrooms. please go back to where you belong. we're pretty sure you're a skunk, so we'd like it if you left quietly and pardon the pun, didn't make a stink.

sincerely,

the homeowner

I can't say I've never won anything,

2009-07-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

but this was the best thing by far. Until last week, my list of wins started and stopped in high school when I won 3 tapes (yes, you read that right, tapes, not CD's) from a radio station. They weren't even singers I listened to, but the thrill of being caller number 10 outweighed such trivialities. Then, at grad night, whilst my friends were winning super-cool, usable prizes like TV's and bicycles, I won a share of stock. I was so thrilled. (Note sarcasm.) Now that I've had time to reflect (and the stock has split once, so that I now own 2 shares-shares which net me a dividend of fifty-two cents every six months), I wonder if any of my friends grad night prizes are earning them money. I would venture a guess that's a "no". But that was where my winning streak ended, until last week. I casually entered a contest on a friend of a friend's blog site to win a free photo session for my baby and then promptly forgot I entered until I got the congrats email from the blog owner/photographer. YAY! We met this week and the shoot went great. I look forward to seeing the final shots, but here is a sneak preview she posted on the blog. I know I'm a tad bit prejudice, but I think they're the cutest photos I've ever seen.

It only took 2 years.

2009-07-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

I planted this peony from a bulb over two years ago. It grew great, never flowered and seemed to die over the winter. I mourned the loss and went on with my life. Imagine my surprise when it grew back even larger that next spring. Sadly, it still didn't flower. I knew enough last winter not to be surprised when it seemed to die. (Apparently, it does best when totally ignored from October to March.) Happily, it flowered this year only a few weeks after the birth of my son. I like to think it wasn't just a coincidence. To commemorate the flowering, I took a picture.Take no notice of the dying backyard grass. I can only hope to keep a limited number of living things alive and without a sprinkler system, the grass is impossible to maintain in the summer.

Stressed

2009-07-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

So, I recently had a baby (not that you couldn't tell or anything). It's been an adjustment and our cat is taking it the hardest. When he becomes anxious he secretly starts licking a spot on the inside of his back leg and usually we don't discover he's started until it's bald and starting to become infected. Such was the case when the baby arrived, only this time in our sleep deprived state, we didn't discover the spot until it was almost 1 1/2 inches across. I sent out a cry for help via facebook (eschewing our local vet which we hate (that's a whole other story)) and a friend recommended Rescue Remedy for Pets sold at Whole Foods.
It has been a lifesaver. Within seconds of giving Griffin his first dose, he was lounging upside down in contentment in the middle of the floor (something he hadn't done in months). Happily, he also stopped licking the spot and fur has started growing back. I highly recommend this amazing product.

Photos ( at 3 weeks old)

2009-07-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

If you live in Northern California and are in need of professional photography, look up Katie. She's great!
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Things are busy

2009-07-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

but I love every minute.

Deacon is Here

2009-04-27T14:38:00.000-07:00

It's a boy!

Race to the Finish

2009-04-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

I always have grandiose ideas for how I will start posting more often, but they never come to fruition. I recently switched positions at work and between that and growing ever larger, my energy stores are quite depleted. For now, you will have to settle for the latest belly shot.

8.5 months

*Boy am I ready to have my waist back again.*

Decorating in the dark.

2009-02-09T09:08:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the long delay in posting. I've been swamped at work and that tires me out, so I go home and it's all I can do to make it through dinner before I am dozing on the couch. This doesn't make for great blog reading. Plus, I don't mean to make this into a blog all about my child, but that's about all that's going on right now that I can write about. I don't work at a place that lends itself to the sharing of stories, at least not without the fear of being sued. So, here's the latest pregnancy/baby news:

Updated belly shot at 6.5 months

The rest of this is stuff we've amassed for the baby's room which is currently in a state of remodel. Since we're not finding out whether it's a boy or a girl, we've gone with the gender neutral green and brown. I figure I'll throw some blue or pink in there with it once I have the baby.

The Crib

Bedding for the crib. We don't have this part yet, but we're registered for it.

Curtains

Misc. items:

It's probably obvious, but I purchased the green shade. I don't have a base yet.

Again with the obvious (green), although I did contemplate the yellow.

I have the elephant in the back.

5 Months

2009-01-15T07:07:00.001-08:00

I figure I am way behind the times in posting the ever-popular belly shot. Truthfully, I had nothing to post until about a month ago. Without further ado, the belly at Christmas (five months):

We've been invited to an engagement party later this month and the attire is cocktail. Ordinarily, this would not be much cause for alarm, but in this case when I saw the invite, I moaned, "where will I find a cocktail maternity dress." Amazingly, it wasn't as hard as I thought. Perhaps I do not give maternity clothing enough credit.

I despair every year.

2009-01-06T10:36:00.001-08:00

In case you are wondering how I feel about being back at work after 17 glorious days off, my feelings are best described by this quote from Michael Scott of NBC's "The Office":

Listen.

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Baby Mine

2008-12-05T13:59:00.000-08:00

Halfway there.

We had the ultrasound yesterday and all went well. The technician said, "you have a very cooperative baby."
Now, I'm know I'm just being a typical "mom" but clearly, our baby is already very photogenic (and perhaps a thumb sucker). For the record, drinking 16 oz. of water before the appointment and holding it for two hours only to be greeted by a techician who plans to further torture you by pressing the ultrasound viewer as hard as possible into your bladder is not the epitome of fun. Although it's all worth it.

And NO, we didn't break down and ask for the gender. It's still going to be a surprise.

Other notes of interest: I haven't had any weird cravings, or any cravings at all, other than milk. I simply CANNOT drink enough of it. It's delicious. Clearly the baby is growing strong bones.

Also, I've been meaning to blog about a song from the Twilight soundtrack, Clair de lune (Claude Debussy), that I cannot stop listening to. (The movie was okay too, although movies are never as good as the books and this was no exception.) Apparently, the baby likes classical music.

No Cause for Alarm

2008-11-19T08:44:00.000-08:00

So, my back has really been hurting me lately. I've been thinking, "why is my back hurting, I'm barely showing and I've gained like 4 pounds (which I can do on a normal day if I eat too many homemade chocolate chip cookies). I shouldn't be in pain." I was perplexed...until I went to my handy-dandy book.It so helpfully told me that back pain at this stage of pregnancy is completely normal. The reason: my body is releasing a hormone that tells my ligaments to relax so that my pelvis can stretch open farther to prepare the birth canal for delivery. Well, that's informative and reassuring. That back pain? Just my bones cracking apart. No cause for alarm.

So, in related news, I'm looking for a good back pillow to take to work.

The Stylings of a Belly

2008-11-19T08:04:00.000-08:00

Is now a good time, fashion-wise to be pregnant or what? Before I was, I used to bemoan the fact that so many of the clothes were billowy and shaped like caftans because everything I tried on made me look pregnant. Now, of course, it's the best. I don't even need to buy maternity shirts because all the normal clothes are plenty big enough. It's wonderful. Now, I'm not showing very much, but I am big enough that my normal waisted pants are way too uncomfortably tight. All my low-rider jeans are still going strong, but everything else is sadly not an option for the time being. So, I was forced to buy some maternity pants and let me tell you, those suckers are COMFORTABLE. How lucky am I to have an excuse to wear stretchy paneled pants next week on Thanksgiving (and to finally be over that whole every food repulses me thing). However, I am still in that weird stage where I don't really look pregnant, I just look like I love to drink beer...alot (which I don't; it's repulsive). So, some of the billowy shirts I have make me look like I'm trying too hard to look pregnant. I'm sure you all know someone who found out they were pregnant and went directly out and bought maternity clothes and started wearing them. In my opinion, this just looks like they are trying too hard. Plus, sure I love wearing my newish billowy shirts now, but I know I will loath the very sight of them by April. Anyway, this is kind of a ramble, but I will end with photos of the clothes I wore to work today. I know the pants look wide-legged (and they were), but I had my mom make them into straight-legged. Also, they are a dark wash that looks black trouser-ish and less jean (thus making them work appropriate).

Daisy Fuentes Sienna Wavy Top (Kohl's)

a.n.a. Maternity Trouser Jean (JC Penney)

Candie's Larkk Mary Jane Pumps (Kohl's)

It Doesn't Take Much

2008-11-13T07:35:00.000-08:00

Two things that please me:

1. A Refresh tea from Starbucks. It's just so (dare I be so corny) refreshing. And it's even better when a co-worker brings you one unexpectedly one morning.

2. Mandarin oranges. On my way home from work, I drive by a number of family owned citrus orchards. (You gotta love small towns and backroads that get you from work to home.) Anyway, yesterday I stopped in and bought a 10 lb. bag from a 75 year old lady who insisted that she give me a sample of the produce. I did not turn her down and unpeeled that thing as soon as I got back in my car.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T11:00:00.001-07:00

And it is indeed happy, for it's Friday, Halloween, and Homecoming all wrapped into one! Also, I can almost say that my "all day" sickness (as opposed to just morning) is gone.

News

2008-10-22T10:35:00.001-07:00

Perhaps you've noticed the new "ticker" in my column to the right. It's true; we're expecting our first child. So far, people have asked/said the strangest/most obtrusive things.

A List (by no means comprehensive) of Things I've Been Asked or Told:

* Had you been trying long? (Last I checked this wasn't your business unless I offered it first.)

* Was this expected/Did you mean to get pregnant? (I am the kind of girl who carries the contents of several cabinets in my purse lest anyone need something. I also try to shop for Christmas gifts all year long. I am not, by any means, the kind of girl who gets pregnant accidentally. No offense if you did.)

* Are you feeling pudgy yet? (No, but why, do I look fat? Thanks so much.)

*"Now you are a sacred vessel." (What can you say to this?)

However, for the record: "yes, we're totally excited and no, we will not be finding out the gender."

Current

2008-10-03T13:21:00.001-07:00

I figure since I've never put up a good photo of the husband and I
(unless you count the one in my sidebar) ,
this was a good time to post an updated one.

It's the best I can do right now.

2008-10-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

I have been very uninspired lately. I get up at the crack of dawn, against my will, to go to work, where I count the hours until I can leave and go home to lay on the couch like a lump. It's hardly fodder for blogging. In lieu of anything interesting in my own life, here are some sites that I enjoy:

Calling all Office fans

Thinking about getting a pet, but would like to rescue one?

Do you need new address labels or have started thinking about your Christmas cards?

Need a unique gift or are looking for something for someone you don't really know well? Try this site.

Always a time-waster.

Another amusing time-waster that is not for the faint of heart.

Last and totally unrelated, I recently discovered this conditioner:

Yeah, yeah, it's moisturizes, but more importantly, it smells fantastic. In fact, the smell of my own hair is the only thing keeping me going today.

It can't be only me.

2008-08-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

Has anyone noticed how more and more men are not wearing an undershirt under their dress shirts? I cannot be the only woman grossed out by this. I feel like seeing the hue of a man's skin through his dress shirt is the equivalent of panty lines on a woman: unsightly and totally unnecessary. Maybe, this year, in lieu of a Christmas baked good I will get my male co-workers an undershirt, thus giving a gift and solving the problem all in one benevolent gesture.

Going for Broke

2008-08-18T10:58:00.001-07:00

Two reasons why it's a bad thing that I'm now within 15 minutes of an Anthropologie:

Gossamer Garden Dress

Marak ata Dress

The plight of women everywhere.

2008-08-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

Don't be deceived, these feel amazingly and wonderfully comfortable in the aisle of the store and even in your own house when you get them home, but the second you step into work, they become pewter torture chambers. I'm sure I'll be hobbling by noon.

Isaac Mizrahi Marissa Crinkle Sandal in Pewter

I am grateful.

2008-08-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

Thank God that I have a door on my office and I'm not stuck out in the thick of things like the rest of the office ladies. Instead, I can ensconce myself in a cave of serenity. I owe Linda a debt of gratitude for choosing the location of this office. Without her, I might have not have lasted this long. When I feel grouchy (which is strangely more and more often), I simply close my door and my blinds and commence working in glorious quiet and solitude. Linda, you are a benefactress.

You'll probably need a kleenex.

2008-08-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

A Story:

A son asked his father, "Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?" The father, who despite having a heart condition, said "Yes." They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons; the father always saying "Yes" to his son's request of going through the race together.

One day, the son asked his father, "Dad, let's join the Ironman together."
And his father of course replied "Yes." (For those who don't know, the Ironman is the toughest triathlon. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile marathon along the coast of the Big Island. Father and son went on to complete the race.

Now watch the video.

(In case you're wondering, I went through at least 11 kleenex while sitting in my office at work.)

It's the little things that keep me going.

2008-08-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

Best part of my work-day?

When, in the middle of a long, very scintillating lunch meeting of approximately 80 people, the person next to me pulled out a copy of this

and we commenced to read it.

Don't bother me

2008-08-04T14:31:00.001-07:00

because tonight I will be reading this:

(It's a good thing we have leftovers for dinner, else my husband would go hungry.)

Unfun

2008-08-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

You know how you're supposed to relish the last day that you have of your "summer break " and have loads of fun with nary a care? Not me. The gloom of going back to work pretty much overshadowed the last THREE days of my break. Although my feelings can be described by a monologue from the made for T.V. movie "A Place for Annie" starring Sissy Spacek,

they can also be more than adequately depicted by the following sketch.

Totally Great Time Waster

2008-07-27T18:39:00.001-07:00

"Personalized" Mosaic

To Give Credit Where Credit is Due:
1. Pirate,
2. Atlantic halibut,
3. La Torre del Oro,
4. Purple Haze,
5. gerard-butler,
6. caffeine curve,
7. Prince Edward Island - Fog & Red Dirt / Soil Road,
8. dark chocolate brownie,
9. The Reader ,
10. Orchids,
11. National-Sarcasm-Society,
12. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof...

Wanna make your own? Instructions found here.
(Special thanks to Kelly for being the inspiration.)

If you love NBC's The Office, this might amuse you.

2008-06-25T06:14:00.000-07:00

Please to enjoy...
Office Spoof

It could be worse.

2008-03-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

For no apparent reason, I have recently become completely addicted to these things. They look like dog bisquits, but they taste like manna from heaven. Seriously, they are delicious and since they are so small, they do not suffer that unfortunate crumb problem that regular graham crackers suffer from. Should you have a three year old or simply an unnatural craving (like me) run to the grocery and buy two boxes. I would like to forewarn you against the Honey Maid "Bees"; they are far too small and are without the delicious sugar sprinkle atop them. I made the mistake of purchasing the "Bees" first and was made to suffer through the whole box before I could give these sticks a try. Now, I hope to prevent you from suffering the same fate.

Paula's Choice is My Choice

2008-03-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

If this cosmetic and skin care line, developed by Paula Begoun (author of "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me"), was sold like Mary Kay, I'd be a rep in a second.

Paula's Choice Skin Care and Cosmetics

Go there. Order. It will change your life. Or, at least, your skin.

My Own Best of 2007

2007-12-31T16:42:00.000-08:00

I'd hate to be left out when the New Year rings

in six hours from now and I haven't taken a moment
to draw up my own list of "Best of 2007". So without further ado
and probably with a fair share of consumerism, I begin:

1. Stephenie Meyer's brilliant Twilight Trilogy
The second link will take you to my personal
review of the first novel in the trilogy.
I could not put the books down and
like a vampire myself,
hardly slept until I was through.

2. It feeds my habit and it is glorious.

Starbucks Barista Aroma Solo

Warm and snuggly; I often wish I had them in black.
And for the record, I've had mine since February
and thus, they should be Jeni's Favorite Thing.
Oprah did not make them cool. ...Obviously, I did.

Classic Crochet Ugg in Chocolate

4.My friend and hairdresser, Jenna,
without whom I might have wallowed in long length flatness
until someone took pity on me and secretly signed me up for
some "stuck in hairstyle rut" make-over show.
I owe her big-time for my big-time hair.

5. Possibly one of the best movies of all time,
barring Anne of Green Gables.
It doesn't hurt that it stars the first male celebrity
to knock Matthew McConaughey off my celebrity pedestal.
(It is important to me that you know that I already
liked Gerard Butler from his clearly very talented
performances in Dear Frankie and The Phantom of the Opera
which I saw long before he took on the role of King Leonides in 300.)

6. A Christmas gift that I've been wanting for
over a year even though I have absolutely no need,
whatsoever, for more bowls.
Try not to be jealous that you don't have them.

Koo de Kir Nesting Bowls

7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
How could you not love the final installment
in the seven year long saga of Harry Potter's life?
Even better, I purchased an advanced copy which was delivered
to my door the day it was released for less than $10.

8. Private Practice
Grey's Anatomy has slipped these past two seasons,
but this off-take into Addison Montgomery's life is great.
A friend of ours says I remind him of Kate Walsh.
This friend is now my best friend.

9. Cold feet? I suggest these.
They work better than anything I've ever found.
I often wear them to bed and I get a new pair every year.

Sierra Designs Classic Down Booties

10. This smells wonderful and can be used as an all-in-one:
shower gel, shampoo, body wash, bubble bath, and shave gel;
I should know, I've used it for everything. I did discover,
however, that the perfume and oil and lotion in this scent
don't smell as good. I only recommend this. I see that it
was one of Oprah's favorite things in 2005. No matter, I
discovered it on my own this year. I will not let the fact that she
beat me to this one bother me.

Philosophy's Amazing Grace

11. The Office
Dry sense of humor required.
I have a Dwight bobble-head at work and I put
up a new Dwight quote by his head after each week's episode.
It has been a big hit.

12. Barefoot Contessa
Ina Garten's recipes are always delicious and simple.
I haven't yet gone wrong with anything of hers that I've tried.
A few favorites: Lemon Cake, Warm Goat Cheese Salad,
Guacamole Salad, Chicken Stock, Roasted Asparagus
Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa)

13. Vista Print Caricatures
Who wouldn't love these?
I sent out Christmas cards of "my family" this year.
Vista Print in general I recommend. The prices are reasonable,
shipping is very fast and the quality of everything I've ordered has been good.

Vista Print Caricature Design

14. Goodreads
A glorious website for personal book reviews.
Check it out.

my 'read' shelf:

I will add more, perhaps, as time allows
and I think of more things.
But for now, enjoy.

Miscellaneous Home Decor

2007-11-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

As requested by my extremely large reader base, here are a few other items that I acquired on my recent shopping trip to the charming towns of Amador City and Sutter Creek. I typically only go once a year so I have to make the most of my visit.

I bought this vintage shelf not knowing if I would use it in the kitchen or the laundry room. As evidenced by the replica detergent boxes that are on it, ultimately I hung it in the laundry room. I really need some other things to put on it, but that will have to wait for now as I don't have anything lying readily around the house.

Close-ups of both of the replica laundry boxes.

I got this during my visit to "the towns" (I sound like a villager in the movie "The Village") last year and haven't hung it yet because it is an antique and thus, slightly rickety. Also, the washboard is glass and I plan to hang it right over our cat's litter box and I have horrible visions of it crashing tragically down on him if not hung properly. My husband went to Home Depot yesterday for some clips with which to hang it safely.

This is really just a strip of material which could be used a myraid of ways, like as a small curtain. I plan to use it as a table runner once the holidays are over. Below you will find close-ups of each hankerchief square.

'Tis the Season

2007-11-14T07:42:00.000-08:00

I love to decorate my house for Christmas. This is largely because our main living area is normally decorated in dark browns and tans and a deep red and this lends itself especially well to Christmas decorations. Most of the rest of the year, I have a hard time finding the exact right shade of red for our living area, but at Christmas I delight and drown in masses of things in the exact right shade of crimson. Each year, I try to add some items to my collection of Christmas decor. Thus far, the bounty has been:

I have the smallest reindeer shown

here. I love how it's sort of pitiful.

(Pottery Barn)

We've never had a proper tree topper before and I loved the vintage glitter on this one. It is supposed to darken in color as it ages. (Pottery Barn)

We decorate our tree in red and silver with white lights, so this is a nice addition to our ornament collection. Plus, it's glittery, so I am hard-pressed to pass it up. ($3, Country Living vintage shop, Amador City)

Again...with the red and silver tree and adding to our ornament collection. (24 for $6.50, Country Living vintage shop, Amador City)

...And one more ornament. I like how awkward the lone snowman head is. ($4.50, Country Living vintage shop, Amador City)

To finish with the tree, I added four more strands of this red glass beading to my current collection. I should not have the trouble I did last year in draping them around the tree (I did not have enough). The beads sparkle prettily when the lights hit them. ($6.50 per strand, County Living vintage shop, Amador City)

I mentioned before how it is difficult to find the correct red most of the year. A prime example is this silk table runner that matches everything perfectly, but is only brought out in stores now because it is Christmas time. (Pottery Barn)

A closer photo of the table runner.

I have been wanting a wreath for our door, but didn't want to buy an expensive one that I adored only to have it stolen off the front door by hooligans, so this fake, plastic one will do the job fine. And I won't die if something untowards befalls it. ($9.98, Ikea)

Last are these glitter snowflakes. These (like the tree topper) will darken as the vintage glitter ages. I really cannot resist sparkly glitter on Christmas decor, as you may have noticed. (Pottery Barn)

I think I might be.

2007-11-13T07:34:00.000-08:00

Am I a bad person if I ordered one of these "Complaint Free World" bracelets after watching Oprah interview the Pastor of the church who started it and have waited at least 6 months for it to come in the mail and now I think to myself, "maybe I'll start wearing it tomorrow?"

I could if I wanted.

2007-10-26T14:45:00.001-07:00

Not many things make me feel as smug about my cooking skills as making my own chicken stock from a chicken I roasted myself that we ate for dinner two nights previously. Although, if I had actually raised the chicken and then slaughtered and plucked it before roasting it, that might increase my smug factor. Yes, I realize it's unwarranted. Anyone can throw a chicken carcass into a pot with unpeeled vegetables and let it simmer on the stove for four hours. But tell that to the homemaker in me and it will go unheard. So, sometimes I open the freezer and survey the individual containers each containing one cup of frozen homemade chicken stock and I sigh in satisfaction. We might get take-out pizza once a week, but those frozen containers mean I could whip something homemade and fabulous out of nothing at a moment's notice. I just choose not to.

Enough Said

2007-10-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

And we did. 14-0

Weekend Project

2007-10-18T07:17:00.000-07:00

Luckily, this was not my weekend project for it ended up being very involved and disgusting. It all began when I put some spaghetti down the disposal. (Note to self: not a good idea.) It clogged the pipes (or so we thought) until we (and by that I mean, my husband and his father) got under the house and saw that a pipe had rusted out. So, for who knows how long, everything that went down the drain was ending up in a sludge pool under our house. My husbands tells me, "I almost vomited under there." Anyway, after much dirty toiling, it was fixed. I am grateful that the cesspool that we were unknowingly fostering can now dry up and that we weren't forced to call an extortionist, er...plumber.

I try.

2007-10-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

These candy filled "witches broom" bags are featured in the Martha Stewart Halloween special magazine this year. I think they are darling. I am making them for some of my friend's children who I know will be stopping by to trick or treat on Halloween. I'd make them for every child who comes by (as we don't get an exhorbitant amount), but I've failed to devote enough time or energy to finding much smaller brown bags. This broom is my test attempt. We are lucky to have a cottonwood tree in our front yard that liberally drops small branches.

Perplexing

2007-10-09T16:50:00.001-07:00

My plant seems to be confused. It's Fall. It's cold and rainy, yet one of my gardenia plants has this blooming. I'm not complaining, I love gardenias, but last I knew they bloomed in warm weather. Perhaps this is simply a testament to my success as a gardner. However, I suspect it's simply a fluke, a lovely smelling one.

I costume the only child I have, okay?

2007-10-03T09:14:00.001-07:00

It's likely that my cat plots my death while I am away at work because of things like this. He is large enough to wear clothing that is targeted at small dogs and I mistakenly think he will wear it with the ease of a dog. How I got a photo where he actually looks sleepy with this thing on his head, I'll never know, for he leapt up straightaway after the shot and started flailing his head until it came off. Two years ago, we got him a dracula cape which was pretty hysterical, but he deigned to wear that as well. I suppose I should admit defeat now and for every future Halloween, or else get a small dog so these costumes don't go to waste.

Ahhhhh...

2007-09-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

Checklist for a Perfect Evening

Eggplant Parmesan in the oven cooking
Dishwasher emptied (this is a big one)
Lunches made for work tomorrow
Outfit picked out for work tomorrow
(First home game tomorrow night!)
Rascal Flatts playing in the background as you blog
(The CD is great, by the way)
and best of all,
The Premiere of The Office in 2 hours and 37 minutes
(not that I'm counting)

"There's nothing on my horizon except everything.
Everything is on my horizon."

Note: If you don't like The Office, then we can't be friends.
Not even blog friends. I admit it; I am an Office elitist.

The Best (Jerry), The Best

2007-09-26T07:12:00.000-07:00

I'm fairly certain that the country group, Rascal Flatts, is the best in the world. In my opinion, their songs evoke feelings and recall times that everyone has had or can relate to. I feel slightly smug because when they came out with their first self-titled CD, I bought it before anyone even knew who they were. So I feel justified in saying that I am a true fan who didn't just jump on the bandwagon 'o love for these guys or see the scandalous music video where Joe BA'd everyone and suddenly love the group. Having said that, I plan to hightail it to Target immediately after work today to buy their latest CD. Apparently (in store) Target has one with a bonus disc. (This is the standard edition.)

If I Won - Another Installment

2007-09-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

For the background, read and understand.
I would stay up all night surfing the internet and buying things like this with all the accessories (and paying for rush shipping) because I definitely WOULDN'T be going into work tomorrow.

Just Out of the Oven

2007-09-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

My supply of scones in the freezer was depleted, so it was time to bake some fresh to go with our morning coffee the next few weeks. My husband is a fan of chocolate chip...a tried and true favorite (and he doesn't stray). I prefer a fruit of some sort. Apricot is the current front runner, but cranberry-orange is a close second. However, tonight I tried white chocolate cherry to make use of the dried cherries that I picked up at the store today. The finished product is delicious, although I am not a huge fan of white chocolate, so I'll probably just make them with only cherries next time.

(Please to excuse the plywood counter-top,
we are currently remodeling.)

Recently Acquired

2007-09-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

My mom and I went shopping today. It was not a great haul. Due to recent styles being voluminous, I tend to take a small (when normally I wear a medium or the occasional large) and smalls were nowhere to be seen. I checked out the new collection of Simply Vera Wang at Kohl's, pathetic and HUGE. Perhaps if I was 8 1/2 months pregnant some of those blouses would have given me pause. As it was, not even Daisy Fuentes caused my eye to stray today. My take is as follows:

Candie's CoatElle BlouseApt. 9 BlouseOh, and yesterday, I got these Roxy Shoes

The Other Family Member

2007-09-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

In lieu of children, which we plan to have but not for a time (deliberately vague... that's how I try to keep my answers when some tactless person asks if we are trying to have children, as apparently being married over three years gives virtual strangers the right to ask), we have a kitty. Or rather, the kitty has us [right where he wants us]. As evidence, a story: The kitty (Griffin) became ill last fall and over the course of some months and various antibiotics as we struggled to make him well, we were forced to feed him a small portion of wet cat food twice a day along with a pill. As you can work out, last fall was almost a year away and we still have to give him the morning portion of wet cat food. Somehow we found a universe wormhole and he's forgotten about the evening portion, but like clockwork he starts meowing about 6 a.m. every morning for his "breakfast". And by meowing, I mean crying and yell meowing until one of us gets up and feeds him, at which point he eats it and then goes right back to sleep in his blanket on the couch. He's got it real rough here.Now that you've seen the cutest cat in the world, how about the cutest dog?

Home-Owners

2007-09-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

We bought our house tonight. Technically, it has been our house for almost three years, but tonight we started the process to refinance the loan into only my husband and I's names. The loan rate should be finalized tomorrow and then we'll be in "escrow" for 30 days. I use quotations as we are "buying" the house from my in-laws. It sort of emotionless as it's already felt like our house and we've been making house payments since we moved in, but if I tell myself that now the equity will be accruing for us alone, I realize the impact. Anyway, I am boring myself with this dry, financial talk. I really wanted to do a segment on my kitty complete with great photos from our new camera, but I went to load the photos on the computer and discovered that the batteries in the camera needed to be recharged. So stay tuned for that coming this weekend.

(Not exactly our house, but oh could you call it our house?
Don't you ever imagine anything different from the way they are?)

This could be bad.

2007-09-17T23:00:00.000-07:00

My husband recently got a job working for, as I refer to it in my head, the most wonderful Corporation of Stores on Earth. As listed on the website, there is a generous employee discount and I quite agree. However, the discount may not be enough to prevent me from becoming destitute in a very short time. It's one of those cases where something may cost $400, but when the "generous discount" is applied, suddenly the total seems like change I could find in my couch cushions on any given day. A warning: if I suddenly start showing up in rags and my hair is in dire need of product, I invite you to my house for surely, at that point, it must be mansionesque in decor and boasting of a chef's kitchen. ...that doesn't seem like a bad trade-off.

If I Won

2007-08-13T23:36:00.000-07:00

Introducing the first installment of "If I Won An Exorbitant Amount of Money from Publisher's Clearing House". You see, to me this dream is not futile. I have actually won money from Publisher's Clearing House...twice. The first time, I won $1 and the second time I won $5. I figure it's only a matter of time before I work up to the exorbitant amount. Until then, I will continue to play the "If I Won" game and today, if I won, I would buy these.

Smile

2007-08-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

Let it be noted that I went to the dentist today for my 6 month cleaning and (I quote), "I am the picture of oral health."

Moving...

2007-07-25T20:09:00.001-07:00

It looks as if I will be moving my book commentary to this site. I thought I disliked it at first, but my natural laziness shown through and it is much easier to keep on top of. Stay tuned to see what my blog becomes (as yet unknown even to myself)...

Unexplained Fascination

2007-07-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

I find that I have an unending fascination for the Asian culture. Recently I read, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I found it very interesting, especially in regards to the details it gave on foot binding and marriage. Along these same lines, I would whole-heartedly recommend Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha. I read this years ago and was very delighted with it. I read very few novels over again, but this book is actually on my short-list of novels I've re-read and would like to add to my personal collection. I was housesitting at the time and found I'd run out of library books. It was a dire situation as I was using every spare moment I had out by their pool acquiring a golden tan and I desperately needed something entertaining to read while I sweat the hours away under the broiling sun. I perused the books shelves at the home and begrudgingly decided to give "Memoirs" a try. Very quickly, I found that I could not put it down.

Guilty Pleasure

2007-07-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

I confess to enjoying young adult fiction. It's so easy to read and unless you've had an upbringing that involved vigorous and lengthy homeschooling, it's easy to relate to. Case in point, Meg Cabot's works, which include "The Princess Diaries". Most recently, I read Pants on Fire, another teenage love story. Altogether not a thought provoking read, but enjoyable nonetheless as I sat in my air conditioned home, on my extremely comfortable couch while outside plants and people wilted in the heat.

Not Worth It

2007-06-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

I actually finished Who's your Daddy (Lynda Sandoval) a few nights ago, but have felt apathetic about getting it on here because it just wasn't really worth reading. It is young adult fiction and probably wouldn't have entertained me even when I was in that category. I won't go into any details because, frankly, I don't feel like wasting my time when I wouldn't recommend it. If, however, you are looking for something that you could get for your 11 year old niece, this would be just the thing. It's very tame and imparts family values. I am boring myself just typing this. I will stop.

Harry Potter

2007-06-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

I reread the sixth book in the Harry Potter series this weekend: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Since the last installment comes out in less than a month (have you pre-ordered your copy of it yet...if not, I recommend surfing the web for a myriad of great deals), I wanted to refresh myself on where the story had left off. It's a good thing I did because I had completely forgotten about Horcruxes, Ginny and Harry, and various other important information. Once again, I cried at the end of the book. I don't feel like this is too extreme of a response either. Dumbledore is simply the most likeable and kindest book character to ever have been imagined and brought to life on the pages of some book. For those of you who may be a Harry Potter naysayer, I turn to the example my husband has set. He was one of the people who was not sure about the books and felt that they might be too dark with too much witchcraft (which as a rule, we are against). I had read the books (only two were out at the time, I believe) and tried to convince him otherwise. Finally, I said he should either read the first book or go see the first movie (with me) before making his final decision. As he is not the reader I am , we trooped off to see the movie. He enjoyed it immensely and was a converted fan before we left the theater that day. The movies are extremely well done and include alot of the information you find in the books. As the books are getting close to being thousands of pages long (not that I mind), they are increasingly hard to cram into one movie sitting, so as we drive home from the theater, I usually fill him in on what they could not include. Honestly, every time I read one of the books in this series, I wish I could have been a student at Hogwarts. As such, I am anticipating the fifth movie greatly and the final book as much as can be anticipated. For the record, I think Snape is good, although every shred of evidence points to the contrary and I dislike how mean he has always been to Harry.

Sensing a Theme

2007-06-21T06:46:00.001-07:00

Perhaps you've noticed that I tend towards "chick-lits"; let's blame it on the season. I enjoy reads that don't require a ton of thinking in the summer. It's far too hot to plod away at slow reading drudgery. However, I am awaiting a copy of Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" at the library and that can hardly be considered light reading. I promise some more literary classics in the future. For now, the latest was Bidding For Love by Katie Fforde. I read it front to back last night so obviously, there was no toiling thought process here. A light, enjoyable read about a London town girl who moves to the country to learn more about and help with a family antiques business that she has suddenly been left in a will. The requisite romance follows. I was slightly turned off that the love interest was her cousin (although the point was made several times over that they were "a million times removed"). Still, the ick factor could not quite be squashed.

Over The Weekend

2007-06-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

I finished several books this weekend. Over the summer I work 4 ten hour days which are nigh impossible to endure at the time of the long day, but wonderful when I'm reclining on the couch on Friday reading the day away whilst my husband toils at his five day a week job. So, one of the three books that I read this weekend was titled, The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. It started out slow, but became increasingly interesting. I thought I saw the end coming, but instead was (both) pleasantly and sadly surprised. One need not be a knitter to enjoy this refreshing read free from the usual everyone-ends-up-living-happily-ever-after contrants. This book is about an industrious single mother and her 12 year old daughter who own a knitting shop. The characters were easy to like and emphathize with. I recommend this wholeheartedly. I also finished A Match Made on Madison by Dee Davis. It was very predictable. The predicted ending was even more of a let-down when everything culminated on less than the last page, which meant I'd pored over 200+ pages to read a paragraph on the ending that I was sure was coming, but still was anticipating nonetheless. This book pitted two New York matchmakers (one older woman and one younger woman) against each other as they both vied to sign one handsome, eligible bachelor on as their client. You probably already know where it goes from there. If you're looking for an easy, summer-by-the pool, don't think too much read, this is it. Finally, I started the second installment in the trilogy A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy by Pamela Aidan. Don't waste your time. This trilogy chronicles the events in Pride and Prejudice as seen through the eyes and heart of Mr. Darcy. The first of the three was not the best I've ever read and this second one, which I hoped would be better, deals almost primarily with Darcy's feelings of anger and sorrow over Wickam's seduction (and almost entrapment) of Georgiana. Both this book and the first in the triology were boring and slow. I tried to skim ahead to something that Elizabeth Bennet was in and could not even locate her name until practically the last 40 pages. This is not worth finishing and as such, I plan to summarily take it directly back to the library from whence it came.

Book Club - May

2007-06-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

So, I've "joined" a book club. I use quotations because I joined two months ago, but haven't actually attended a meeting yet. At this point, I may never attend but that is besides the point. I did, however, read the book that was assigned for May: "The Master Butcher Singing Club". It was an odd book about a man who moves from Germany to the United States and opens a butcher shop. It catalogues his life as seen through the eyes of a friend of his wife's. The whole novel felt devoid of life to me. I didn't have to force myself to finish the book, but neither did I feel excited to get home from work to read it. If you decide to forge ahead with it, I recommend finishing the whole thing. There was a revelation on the last pages.

Gossip Girl

2007-06-14T07:21:00.001-07:00

I am currently reading the latest in the Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar. This series is definitely a guilty pleasure as I mostly like reading about all the couture everyone wears. In my opinion, they are actually a little trashy, but highly enjoyable. I recommend them as an easy read, but start with the first one (aptly titled "Gossip Girl") or you'll be lost. And if you like these, try her offshoot series, "It Girl" starring little Jenny Humphrey.