I love it when my children have cute little sayings based on what they hear us say and it always makes me sad when they start to say things correctly.
On my refrigerator we have a Family Home Evening chart and last week Emily wanted to change the names assigned to various responsibilities. She took the chart down and stared at it for a long time. It's because she's always called it Hamily Oh NeeNeen. Now that she is beginning to read, she could tell that something was wrong. She turned to me and asked, "Where is the neeneen?" I hated to help her sound out the words and see the light come on in her eyes. She will never say it incorrectly again.
I'm not going to correct everything she says -
She calls sunscreen - "sun scream" - isn't that perfect
Hair conditioner is "air conditioner"
Recently she called pocket change - diamonds, quarters and pickles - I'm still laughing over that one
Life is Good
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Book Review: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie FordMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a tender book, a fictionalized story of the Japanese internment camps. This part of our American history is troubling and yet I think understandable today given our experiences with terrorism. It's something I think about as I consider how "race" is treated and discussed in our society. I've also enjoyed the books, When the Emperor was Divine, The Bracelet and the Journey to Topaz series. I wonder why so much of our history is never taught in school. I think we would understand ourselves and our country better is we were brought up more aware of all of our history.
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Book Review: Never Let Me Go
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo IshiguroMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Haunting. While I found this a compelling story for many reasons, I almost put it down for good at one point. There is a small section of the book that turns questionable and the story loses it momentum. I was afraid the book would turn to dwelling on inappropriate and trivial relationships and the intrigue and mystery would be lost. A girlfriend recommended finishing it and luckily the story returned to its' opening obscurity which made me want to find out the ending.
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Thursday, November 4, 2010
In Search of a Giants Girlfriend
So, not one of my brothers called this week to congratulate us on "our Giants" winning the World Series.......hmmmmm, sore losers? Rockies fans? football fans? watching Project Runway?
I honestly couldn't bring myself to blog about the Giants, I was truly afraid I would jinx them. I'm not supersticious, just a little sticious. But we are now so excited to be fans of the GIANTS. It was really fun to cheer them on as a family. Our whole room erupted with yelling and jumping (even on the couch) when they got the final out and WON!
So, the next day I wore my National League Champions t-shirt all day and I did not get one comment from a woman. A couple of guys who were wearing jerseys, said "Go Giants!" and that's it. I was totally disappointed. Then Matt went to lunch with his brothers, etc. to celebrate and that sounded like so much fun. That's why I've decided I need a Giants girlfriend. I mean how awkward would it be for me to go to lunch with a bunch of guys right?
But, I have to be totally up front. I have become somewhat of a baseball snob. I don't want to go to lunch after winning the World Series and discuss the color of nail polish on my toes or heaven forbid my children. Therefore, I will tell you a few things I know about baseball and if you know these things too, then you can be my friend.
I know
- what a walk-off double is
- why Renteria should open his stance (at least that's what Jon Miller says, but don't do it, I like the way Renteria hits)
- what the following are: 4-seam fastball, 2-seam fastball, sinker, slider, curve ball, splitter, knuckle ball and change-up.
- what a 6-4-3 double play is and that it's the most common double play
- who is known as Smiles
- who is the Freak
- whose beard to fear
- Buster's real name (I'm still naming my next dog Buster)
- who hit 4 doubles in the playoffs
- that you don't swing on a 3-0
- why stealing home is such a great play and that the runner has to carefully decide whether to risk letting the hitter know he is going to try to steal or risk getting hit with the bat
- that you can steal first base on a 3rd strike
- the game has returned to a pitchers game after the steroid era
- who on the Giants team played together in college
Pretty cool, huh. That's what you get for 27 months of pregnancy, 3 labor and deliveries and one marriage. So, I don't know if there are any women out there as lucky and as smart as me, but I'll be waiting for your call. Meet me on the diamond?
Monday, October 18, 2010
I Almost Made It
Just over a year ago, after reading The Book Whisperer, I set a goal to read 40 books within one year. I made it to 37 and feel very proud because my year included having five children at 5 different schools and a wedding. However, I have been putting off this blog post because I feel obligated to write a book review on the last few books I read but haven't yet written about. Nevermind the book review - there are plenty of professional ones out there. I usually feel rushed anyway and write far less than what I actually feel or think about a book. Here are my very short summaries on the last four books that I read.
My Antonia by Willa Cather - I love, love this author and so enjoyed this book. I actually had read it over twenty years ago when mom gave it to me in college and I don't remember enjoying it then as much as I did this time. I do think that having some "life experiences" can help you appreciate so much more the message of an author and can help you relate to or feel compassion for the characters in the story. I felt as if Antonia were my own friend, I'm sure the word "My" in the title is put there just for that reason; not only does Antonia belong to Jim but also to every reader. This book definitely gives you a nostalgic feeling for childhood - not for your own but for the one that Jim and Antonia lived. I also loved the ending. I know why Jim stayed away from Antonia for so many years, it is the same for all of us, when we remember friends from our childhood we remember them the way we want to and when we sometimes renew a friendship years later it is never the same and somehow the tender childhood feelings are lost. So, I loved that Jim finally did return to his hometown to visit her and that things didn't change so much. And best of all, even with all that was hard in life, Antonia found happiness.
To a God Unknown by John Steinbeck
Steinbeck is one of my most favorite authors. This book haunted me and left me with such a feeling that I couldn't pick up anything else to read for a few days. It seems obvious that it is one of his early books, especially if you've read any of his later work. It is rough around the edges and heavy on the emotions.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
OK, this one is interesting to anyone who has ever taken a biology class or worked in a lab. An incredible amount of time and research went into this book. But it took a LONG time to tell the story.
Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman
I always try to tell myself this stuff isn't real but stories about spirits and underworlds and kachina's who signal your death always creep me out.
So what did I learn about trying to read 40 books in a year?
Well, first I learned that it's a choice. If you want to do it, you can find ways to fit reading into your day. I remember mom telling me the following experience. A number of years ago, she fell and injured her knee. After surgery she went to physical therapy and became friends with the therapist Dave Rakita. Dave was into marathon running and during their sessions she learned about his running regimen and races and he learned about how much mom likes to read. She said that years later after physical therapy was finished she happened to run into him in the grocery store and she asked him about his running and then made a comment about how much she would like to run. He then learned looked at her and said, "Karen, I haven't read a book in years."
So basically we all have choices and yes choosing to do something usually means you have to give up doing something else. I remember after I read the book The Book Whisperer, I thought about how the teacher had her students reading everywhere they went and during every spare minute of the day. And I thought, if I were a PE teacher I would want them to be doing something physical or if I were a school counselor I would want them to be socially interacting. My only point is, that reading is great but there are lots of other wonderful things to do as well.
I learned that if I do this again, I'll count pages instead of books. I had a couple of books I wanted to read this year and I avoided them completely because they were so long and would take up so much time and would keep me from reaching my goal of 40 books. I'd rather read what I want and not worry about how many books I check off the list. I think reading 10,000 to 12,000 pages would be the same as 40 books.
I also learned how easy it is to forget what you have read. It seems like I can only remember some of the details on most of the books I've read through the years. Perhaps if I took the time to write a good book review, it would help me remember each book. But so many books are only mediocre and I don't want to spend a lot of time with them. CS Lewis said, "The sure mark of an unliterary man is that he considers"I've read it already" to be a conclusive argument against reading a work...Those who read great works, on the other hand , will read the same work ten, twenty or thirty times during the course of their life". I think I agree with that and so I have my own list of "must read again books".
It is very satisfying to get lost in a book. Unfortunately the emotions usually stay with me. Matt has often asked me why I am mad at him, or why I am so happy or so down. He has figured it out - it has nothing to do with him, it's all about the book I'm reading. I have heard people say that they don't read because once they start, they can't put the book down. I found that when I read consistently everyday, I can put most books down just because I know it won't be too long before I find out what happens.
Finally, I love carrying a book with me. I spend a lot of time waiting for kids, watching games, and standing in lines and it's great to have a book to read everywhere I go.
My Antonia by Willa Cather - I love, love this author and so enjoyed this book. I actually had read it over twenty years ago when mom gave it to me in college and I don't remember enjoying it then as much as I did this time. I do think that having some "life experiences" can help you appreciate so much more the message of an author and can help you relate to or feel compassion for the characters in the story. I felt as if Antonia were my own friend, I'm sure the word "My" in the title is put there just for that reason; not only does Antonia belong to Jim but also to every reader. This book definitely gives you a nostalgic feeling for childhood - not for your own but for the one that Jim and Antonia lived. I also loved the ending. I know why Jim stayed away from Antonia for so many years, it is the same for all of us, when we remember friends from our childhood we remember them the way we want to and when we sometimes renew a friendship years later it is never the same and somehow the tender childhood feelings are lost. So, I loved that Jim finally did return to his hometown to visit her and that things didn't change so much. And best of all, even with all that was hard in life, Antonia found happiness.
To a God Unknown by John Steinbeck
Steinbeck is one of my most favorite authors. This book haunted me and left me with such a feeling that I couldn't pick up anything else to read for a few days. It seems obvious that it is one of his early books, especially if you've read any of his later work. It is rough around the edges and heavy on the emotions.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
OK, this one is interesting to anyone who has ever taken a biology class or worked in a lab. An incredible amount of time and research went into this book. But it took a LONG time to tell the story.
Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman
I always try to tell myself this stuff isn't real but stories about spirits and underworlds and kachina's who signal your death always creep me out.
So what did I learn about trying to read 40 books in a year?
Well, first I learned that it's a choice. If you want to do it, you can find ways to fit reading into your day. I remember mom telling me the following experience. A number of years ago, she fell and injured her knee. After surgery she went to physical therapy and became friends with the therapist Dave Rakita. Dave was into marathon running and during their sessions she learned about his running regimen and races and he learned about how much mom likes to read. She said that years later after physical therapy was finished she happened to run into him in the grocery store and she asked him about his running and then made a comment about how much she would like to run. He then learned looked at her and said, "Karen, I haven't read a book in years."
So basically we all have choices and yes choosing to do something usually means you have to give up doing something else. I remember after I read the book The Book Whisperer, I thought about how the teacher had her students reading everywhere they went and during every spare minute of the day. And I thought, if I were a PE teacher I would want them to be doing something physical or if I were a school counselor I would want them to be socially interacting. My only point is, that reading is great but there are lots of other wonderful things to do as well.
I learned that if I do this again, I'll count pages instead of books. I had a couple of books I wanted to read this year and I avoided them completely because they were so long and would take up so much time and would keep me from reaching my goal of 40 books. I'd rather read what I want and not worry about how many books I check off the list. I think reading 10,000 to 12,000 pages would be the same as 40 books.
I also learned how easy it is to forget what you have read. It seems like I can only remember some of the details on most of the books I've read through the years. Perhaps if I took the time to write a good book review, it would help me remember each book. But so many books are only mediocre and I don't want to spend a lot of time with them. CS Lewis said, "The sure mark of an unliterary man is that he considers"I've read it already" to be a conclusive argument against reading a work...Those who read great works, on the other hand , will read the same work ten, twenty or thirty times during the course of their life". I think I agree with that and so I have my own list of "must read again books".
It is very satisfying to get lost in a book. Unfortunately the emotions usually stay with me. Matt has often asked me why I am mad at him, or why I am so happy or so down. He has figured it out - it has nothing to do with him, it's all about the book I'm reading. I have heard people say that they don't read because once they start, they can't put the book down. I found that when I read consistently everyday, I can put most books down just because I know it won't be too long before I find out what happens.
Finally, I love carrying a book with me. I spend a lot of time waiting for kids, watching games, and standing in lines and it's great to have a book to read everywhere I go.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Book Review: Honor Lost
Honor Lost : Love and Death in Modern Day Jordan by Norma KhouriMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book is not a pleasant read, having to do with honor killings of women if they do anything to disgrace a family. The story takes place in Jordan and claims to be true but I have no basis for accepting it as fact. However, whether the actual story is true or not, honor killings are one the most deplorable acts allowed in the world today. I was most disappointed that this occurred in Jordan, a country I imagine as more progressive and democratic than all the other middle eastern countries.
The book is short, under 200 pages and an quick read.
It is not as well written as Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir
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