June has been a busy month here. I'm hoping for a better July. The day after Fathers Day my two living brothers and I moved our Dad to the Assisted Living Facility in the town we were born. It wasn't an easy decision, but a necessary one. We were afraid my Dad would be resistant. Picture Granny from The Beverly Hillbillies in her rocker in the back of the truck moving to Beverly Hills. That was our biggest fear. Fortunately Daddy had mercy on us and was a real trooper. He dragged his feet some the morning of the move, but once we left he didn't look back. I on the other hand felt like I was in a funeral procession. It's been over a week now and he seems to be doing really well. He told me tonight he had no intentions of going anywhere. I guess one move in 46 years is enough for him. I think he is secretly relieved that someone can be there at a moments notice if he has a problem.
The facility was built in 2003 and is attached to the hospital my brothers and I were born in. They are building a new hospital next to it. We went to school with many of the attendants or their parents. There are only 14 other people there and my Dad went to high school with one of the men. Now we are working on cleaning out the house and giving away his menagerie of animals and birds. Most of the house cleaning will have to wait until fall. My brother and I almost melted in the house Fathers Day weekend. Not to mention the storm on Fathers Day afternoon. We literally thought we were going to blow away. There is nothing like a storm when there are no buildings around it to block your view.
Anyway, that hasn't left much time for anything other than work. I won't be spending a week with my Dad in July now. I'll probably go for a few days only and save some of my other vacation days for cooler weather. My DVD pile is growing and my TBR pile is as big as ever. I'm hoping to correct that this weekend. I don't get a day off for July 4th other than Saturday, but I have no big plans. I hope to work on that DVD pile, do some reading and catch a movie. I've been invited to a couple of parties on Saturday as well.
I've been sharing some of my books with some of my employees. It makes me want to dig in myself so badly. I wish I was one of those people who could read anywhere and anytime, but I'm not.
I'll be back later when I have more to add. I hope my American friends have a fabulous 4th and that the rest of you have a great weekend.
I made my blog private for a few weeks while I attended to a few things. I'm still attending to those things and will be for a while. I like to blog now and then though, so I thought I'd make it public. I don't want the few of you who care to think I fell off the face of the earth. Anyway, it's going to be a busy summer. I'm trying to prioritize, so I've dropped the challenges. I want to read what I want when I can this summer. Call me a quitter, I don't care;-)
I haven't gotten as much reading done as I'd like, but did finally finish Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I couldn't get into it on my first attempt last year. I really enjoyed it on my second try. I don't have anywhere the amount of willpower her family has, but it certainly made me think about where my food comes from. I also read Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. I've wanted to read it for years. It's nonreligious thoughts on Christian Spirituality. It wasn't as controversial as I expected, but it does make you think.
I'm reading his Searching for God Knows What now.
The Dallas Morning News had required summer reading for adults in the Saturday paper. Three people recommended Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. I've had this book in my TBR pile for two years now. I used to love books set in Afghanistan, but got a little burned out. I think I'll move this one up.
I'll be spending a week in July with my Dad. I usually try to avoid his house in the middle of July, but my db and sil deserve a vacation, so I'm making my list of books to go with me and my fans (the cooling kind). Right now it includes The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton and Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos (nope, I still haven't read it). I'm sure the list will change and grow before I leave.
In the DVD pile I have The Visitor, Boy A and Revolutionary Road. I'm also eyeballing Gran Torino and He's Just Not That Into You on pay per view. Last weekend I watched the first season of True Blood. I liked it, but I wasn't a huge fan of the guy they have playing Bill. He just didn't seem right to me, but maybe I'll feel differently once I read the books. I also caught up on Weeds. I have mixed feelings about Weeds. It's funny, but such a downer at the same time.
I walked for an hour on the trail near my house this morning. It's already hot here at 8:00 AM. I recently bought EA Sports Active Personal Trainer for my Wii. My goal is to start the 30 Day Challenge in the next few days. Wish me luck.
I'll be blogging off and on this summer. I'll be back if you don't see me for a while. I'm going to try to get to all of your blogs in the next week. It's been a few weeks. I cut back on the number of blogs in my readers. I should have done it sooner. I love reading blogs but I prefer quality relationships over quantity. It's also a time sucker and if you are like me you only have so much time for that. I hope you all are having a great summer.
I've decided to take the month of May off from the blog world. I realized during my vacation that I need to prioritize in order to get things done. I'm one of those people who is always starting something new and not finishing it. There always seems to be something better to do or read for that matter. I'm the complete opposite at work, so go figure.
I enjoy visiting all the blogs out there, but they also feed my addiction. I need to focus on a few things instead of many things. So . . . for the month of May I'm going to focus on some of the constants in my life. Those include my TBR pile, running program and family. I will stop by the blogs of those who have been so faithful to visit mine. I really appreciate those of you who keep coming back. I love reading what you are doing as well. That will never stop.
I love this time I year, so I hope to be inspired. Who knows? I might be inspired to post before the month is over. Right now though I plan to be back in June with a progress report and my priorities in order. Happy May Everyone!
Good Morning Sunday Saloners! I read nothing last week. Nothing! It still amazes me how many books some of you read each week and I read nothing the week I'm off. Oh well, such is my life and I really can't complain. Today I want to start Doctor Zhivago since my reading group begins discussions on it tomorrow. I promised my thoughts on The Lace Reader and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. So here goes. . .
I had mixed feelings about The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. Here is a synopsis. I liked it, but probably not as much as other reviewers. The background of the novel was an almost modern day Salem. I say that because Towner's journal is dated 1981 when I believe she was seventeen. That would make her almost my age today, and I'm pretty sure she's not that old in the book. I've heard bits and pieces about Salem over the years, but this book made me feel like I was there. Lace reading is discussed of course. To be honest, I found that a little monotonous after a while. I didn't get where it had anything to do with the ending which was disappointing.
Towner is the main character and is difficult to warm up to. The very first paragraph of the book stuck in my mind for the entire book.
My name is Towner Whitney. No, that's not exactly true. My real name is Sophya. Never believe me, I lie all the time.
That sentence really changes how you read this book and I think it was meant to. You are suspicious of Towner at first then you trust her then there's the ending. Some of the ending was a bit confusing to me. I'm still unsure about the abuse part. Overall though the I found the book different and a worthwhile read. It's one of those books you have to stick with and are usually glad you did. I think you probably need to read it twice to do it justice.
I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith with my online Classics group. A synopsis is here. The group was mixed on this book. Some loved it. Others thought is was too simple with no plot. Others felt it reminded them of painful things in their childhood that they'd rather not relive. I was in the loved it group. I can't describe it any better than Anna Quindlen did in the foreword of my book.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is not the sort of book that can be reduced to its plot line. The best anyone can say is that it is a story about what it means to be human.
I admit I'm a sucker for a human story. This story reminded me of what it was like to be a child. It is funny how different people reacted differently. Some people in the group felt at a distance while reading it, but others felt too close. Isn't that what reading is all about? I'd highly recommend A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My niece has started selling scrapbooking, card making and stamping products. I've decided that I'm more suited for card making and stamping. I've been busy perusing her catalogs the last few days. While doing that I've been catching up on the DVD pile.
First of all, I watched The Reader. I think I liked the movie better than the book. I still have mixed feelings about the whole subject matter, but I really liked the movie. The movie was a little different from the book, but not by much. I felt the movie should have spent more time on the trial and the background of Hanna's illiteracy. I don't think the people who haven't read the book will really understand Hanna. The movie does focus on the lasting effect the relationship had on Michael. I think that's important, but now I understand why one of my co-workers hated the movie. She hasn't read the book plus has sons and grandsons. I'd highly recommend it, but it's not for everyone either.
I watched The Wrestler next. This movie was both beautiful and difficult to watch. You can't help but like the characters. At the same time, you can't help but feel their pain. It is also a very bloody movie with nudity. Not for the kiddies, but I'd recommend it.
Lastly I watched Yes Man. I got this for my birthday mainly as a joke. I'm not quite sure why because sometimes I like Jim Carrey. I liked this one. It's not one I'll remember forever, but it's a sweet funny movie. I'd recommend it if your looking for something light.
That's it for this weeks Sunday Salon. Have a great week everyone!
I've been without Internet for four days and actually survived. I did pretty well the first week, but it was always there to tempt me. I've been at my Dad's for most of this week, so there was no temptation to resist. I had hoped to get lots of reading done. I can usually do that at my Dad's even if I've been busy working on things for him. This time he was up to getting out some, so I didn't even crack a book. I'm not complaining. It's a real treat to get him out even if it's just to visit with a relative or go to the local Dairy Queen. I saw people I hadn't seen in years. Many who I didn't recognize. It's amazing how everyone, but me gets older. Just kidding.
Anyway, I'm back online and will be back at work Monday. I could live without the later part (well, not literally). I got my Verizon Fios installed. That only took 45 minutes of my life, but unfortunately it took another 3 days to get my email working correctly. Tomorrow it's a day (or three hours) of pampering - hair and nails. I'm looking forward to that.
I was able to finish A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and The Lace Reader last week. I'll write about them more in The Sunday Salon. Next I'll be starting Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak with my online Classics Club and finally Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos.
I have The Reader and The Wrestler waiting in the DVD pile for this weekend. I've been looking forward to both of those coming out.
Thanks to everyone for their vacation well wishes. I'll try to get around to your blogs this weekend if I haven't already. Have a great weekend everyone!
I hope all of you had a good weekend. I'm officially on vacation. I've decided to take time off from the blogging world. I'm hoping to get more done with less computer time. That's means I'll be turning the computer off since I'm so easily tempted. I'm not that strong though, so I'm sure I'll be turning it back on from time to time. The good news is I'm having Verizon FiOS installed this week. My connection isn't fast enough to view all those videos out there now plus it costs the same as my slower connection. I'll be back in a few weeks with my TBR pile a little shorter. I hope! Take care everyone.
I've never been one to journal even though I have a blog. I think I inherited that from my Dad. He is a very private person. I'm that way in some ways, but fortunately not to his extreme. I've always had this fear of someone reading my journal especially when I'm dead and gone. Now that I'm older and wiser I don't care so much. I think blogging has helped me with that.
My Grandmother kept a dairy from time to time. My Mother used to record events on a calendar. Those calendars have come in handy more times than I can count. I've got quite a memory when it comes to things like work. It's the little personal things that get lost and as I get older I realize they are the most important. I also know journaling can be a good stress reliever. I've decided to try my hand at journaling again even if it's just recording little things.
Last Christmas I discovered Bookgirl's Studio through her blog. Iliana makes beautiful hand beaded journals. She has an Etsy shop. I purchased one for my 16 year old niece. She loved it.
I recently went back and got some more for gifts and myself. (Click on the picture to enlarge) The Nancy Drew postcard journals I got for my sil and niece. They loved Nancy Drew books. There was a time when every time I called over there in the evening they were playing Nancy Drew games on the computer. My niece has outgrown Nancy now, but I know she'll love the journal.
If you visit Bookgirl's Studio you won't regret it. She has a new Paris themed journal that I'm dying to get. I won't be tempted if you beat me to it;-)
How about you? Do you keep a journal? What kind of things do you write in yours?
Posts
