Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday!
Between the house, still mostly tidy from my weekend alone, and the peace and quiet of having everyone at work or school and being back to my routines, and the sunshine that allows me to pretend we aren't about to have another storm, Monday feels good today. (Hence the exclamation point.) I've got some new systems in place to help me accomplish some goals I look forward to, have some incentives in place to make me want to keep up with the systems. Altogether, it's a pretty positive day. Happy Monday!
Friday, January 21, 2011
5 things I like about being home!
Just back from sunny warm Florida - welcomed home by cold and snow. Nonetheless, I'm glad to be back, for the following reasons, among others:
1) My own bed and pillow. I seem over the last year to be sleeping increasingly less well, which makes me even more sensitive to uncomfortable sleeping arrangements while traveling than I used to be. Being home in my own comfortable bed is a major improvement.
2) iPod. Yes, I could have brought it with me, but I couldn't really have sat listening to music at any point on the trip, so there wouldn't have been a lot of point. It's nice to be back with my own music playing quietly in the kitchen.
3) Ownership of the TV. I get a say in what's watched, and equally important, when the TV gets turned off.
4) My own kitchen. I know where everything is, how everything works, and I'm not messing with anyone else's systems when I get myself something to eat or drink.
5) Homeyness! Yes, it's cluttered and messy and often dirty, and there are toys everywhere, but it's also colorful and bright and cheery and I don't feel like I need the kids to clean up after themselves every hour.
So, overall, it's nice to be back in familiar surroundings with my own stuff, etc., even if the weather isn't necessarily what I would have ordered!
1) My own bed and pillow. I seem over the last year to be sleeping increasingly less well, which makes me even more sensitive to uncomfortable sleeping arrangements while traveling than I used to be. Being home in my own comfortable bed is a major improvement.
2) iPod. Yes, I could have brought it with me, but I couldn't really have sat listening to music at any point on the trip, so there wouldn't have been a lot of point. It's nice to be back with my own music playing quietly in the kitchen.
3) Ownership of the TV. I get a say in what's watched, and equally important, when the TV gets turned off.
4) My own kitchen. I know where everything is, how everything works, and I'm not messing with anyone else's systems when I get myself something to eat or drink.
5) Homeyness! Yes, it's cluttered and messy and often dirty, and there are toys everywhere, but it's also colorful and bright and cheery and I don't feel like I need the kids to clean up after themselves every hour.
So, overall, it's nice to be back in familiar surroundings with my own stuff, etc., even if the weather isn't necessarily what I would have ordered!
Friday, January 14, 2011
book reviews
pre-vacation book reviews! Some of the best kind ...
Erle Stanley Gardner, The Case of the Restless Redhead. Not a bad entry in the Mason series - the plot moved along nicely, was relatively convoluted, and you certainly couldn't guess who the bad guys were. None of the characters was particularly memorable, however, and Mason's legal shenanigans were a bit closer to the line than usual for him. I'd say this one was solidly middle of the pack.
Jean M. Auel, The Clan of the Cave Bear. I remember reading this for school, and I remember thinking it was pretty good. I also, however, remember thinking it was fairly well researched and historically accurate (so far as it could be). This time through, I found the book a disappointment. Ayla, the human girl, is less like an early human and more like a 20th century woman dropped into a cave filled with neanderthals. The neanderthals themselves possess secrets and wisdom that mankind wouldn't have for thousands of years after this book was set. The characters were interesting, but overall, it just wasn't quite good enough, and certainly not as good, or as respect-worthy, as I remember.
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Roman Dusk. I find Yarbro's Saint-Germain books fall into one of two categories - compellingly well written, or overly complicated and dull. This one didn't achieve either extreme. It was pleasant, it was interesting, but it failed to truly grab me. I'm keeping it for the amazingly detailed glossary and gazetteer in the back, not because I expect a year from now to remember what happened in it.
Louisa May Alcott, The Journals of ... Truthfully, I found these a bit disappointing. You hear so much about Alcott's journals, and her family's habit of reading and commenting on each other's journals, and I found Alcott's journals to be very Jo March-like: businesslike, largely unsentimental. They were interesting, but less so than I had expected.
Erle Stanley Gardner, The Case of the Restless Redhead. Not a bad entry in the Mason series - the plot moved along nicely, was relatively convoluted, and you certainly couldn't guess who the bad guys were. None of the characters was particularly memorable, however, and Mason's legal shenanigans were a bit closer to the line than usual for him. I'd say this one was solidly middle of the pack.
Jean M. Auel, The Clan of the Cave Bear. I remember reading this for school, and I remember thinking it was pretty good. I also, however, remember thinking it was fairly well researched and historically accurate (so far as it could be). This time through, I found the book a disappointment. Ayla, the human girl, is less like an early human and more like a 20th century woman dropped into a cave filled with neanderthals. The neanderthals themselves possess secrets and wisdom that mankind wouldn't have for thousands of years after this book was set. The characters were interesting, but overall, it just wasn't quite good enough, and certainly not as good, or as respect-worthy, as I remember.
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Roman Dusk. I find Yarbro's Saint-Germain books fall into one of two categories - compellingly well written, or overly complicated and dull. This one didn't achieve either extreme. It was pleasant, it was interesting, but it failed to truly grab me. I'm keeping it for the amazingly detailed glossary and gazetteer in the back, not because I expect a year from now to remember what happened in it.
Louisa May Alcott, The Journals of ... Truthfully, I found these a bit disappointing. You hear so much about Alcott's journals, and her family's habit of reading and commenting on each other's journals, and I found Alcott's journals to be very Jo March-like: businesslike, largely unsentimental. They were interesting, but less so than I had expected.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
the initial game
Due to a completely blank brain today, I'm stealing this meme from my Facebook page. The idea is to answer all the questions with the first initial of your name. In the spirit of reposting, I'll use all new words for this one.
1. What is your name: Shay
2. A four Letter Word: stop
3. A boy's Name: Simon
4. A girl's Name: Sabrina
5. An occupation: server
6. A color: scarlet
7. Something you wear: sweater
8. A food: salmon
9. Something found in the bathroom: soap
10. A place: Siberia
11. A reason for being late: slow children
12. Something you shout: shush!
13. A movie title: Say Anything
14. Something you drink: sweet tea
15. A musical group: Savage Garden
16. An animal: Shetland pony
17. A street name: State St.
18. A type of car: Sonata
19. A song title: Seasons in the Sun
20. A verb: skid
1. What is your name: Shay
2. A four Letter Word: stop
3. A boy's Name: Simon
4. A girl's Name: Sabrina
5. An occupation: server
6. A color: scarlet
7. Something you wear: sweater
8. A food: salmon
9. Something found in the bathroom: soap
10. A place: Siberia
11. A reason for being late: slow children
12. Something you shout: shush!
13. A movie title: Say Anything
14. Something you drink: sweet tea
15. A musical group: Savage Garden
16. An animal: Shetland pony
17. A street name: State St.
18. A type of car: Sonata
19. A song title: Seasons in the Sun
20. A verb: skid
Monday, January 10, 2011
5 things that make me happy today
It's a highly grumpy day today (yes, even despite starting it off listening to my children argue constantly, and despite spending half an hour squeezed into a seat listening to 3rd-graders play recorder!), so I think a happiness reminder is in order.
1. Hot coffee. (Or other hot beverages. It's the 'hot' that makes the difference!) Need I explain? I'm sure I already have, many many times!
2. iPods. Music is very motivational, and helps compartmentalize tasks while remaining productive. Plus, my personal music selections are diverse enough that it's a joy to have them all in one place.
3. School. Despite subjecting me to a third-grade recorder concert, school occupies my children for hours, makes them happy, educates them, gives them friends and other adults who care for them, and generally makes them far more interesting people.
4. Christmas cards. I have them all hung up around the kitchen and living room (haven't started taking them down yet because they haven't stopped coming in!), and it's cheery and festive, and so nice to get updates and pictures from people I don't see or hear from that often.
5. Sun! One reason I can't seem to move my computer back to my desk and off the dining room table is that my office gets zero sun, and the dining room table gets lovely hot sunshine all day long. Sitting here almost (well, except for the snow-covered back yard) feels like it isn't midwinter.
1. Hot coffee. (Or other hot beverages. It's the 'hot' that makes the difference!) Need I explain? I'm sure I already have, many many times!
2. iPods. Music is very motivational, and helps compartmentalize tasks while remaining productive. Plus, my personal music selections are diverse enough that it's a joy to have them all in one place.
3. School. Despite subjecting me to a third-grade recorder concert, school occupies my children for hours, makes them happy, educates them, gives them friends and other adults who care for them, and generally makes them far more interesting people.
4. Christmas cards. I have them all hung up around the kitchen and living room (haven't started taking them down yet because they haven't stopped coming in!), and it's cheery and festive, and so nice to get updates and pictures from people I don't see or hear from that often.
5. Sun! One reason I can't seem to move my computer back to my desk and off the dining room table is that my office gets zero sun, and the dining room table gets lovely hot sunshine all day long. Sitting here almost (well, except for the snow-covered back yard) feels like it isn't midwinter.
Friday, January 07, 2011
children at play
One of the most interesting things about having kids, I think, is listening to/watching them play. When they were babies, I loved to watch them try to figure things out - you could really see them thinking as they turned toys over in their hands. As they got older, it became more interesting to listen to their running commentary as they played. The younger two have a particularly rich imagination, and the things they put together are fascinating.
Having a playdate adds to the interest level, because then you get two sets of imaginations and two meshes of interest meeting. (When it goes badly, it goes badly!) But when it goes well, it's really fascinating to see how it works. Right now, my bunny girl and her friend are playing with the Bat Cave and Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Cafe, and there's all sorts of thievery happening. Interestingly, there appear to be lots of robbers and no actual cops. Although it's possible that Rapunzel is a private detective.
I know it's not long before all the imaginative play is internalized (or computerized), so I'm enjoying this peek into their busy little brains while I have it!
Having a playdate adds to the interest level, because then you get two sets of imaginations and two meshes of interest meeting. (When it goes badly, it goes badly!) But when it goes well, it's really fascinating to see how it works. Right now, my bunny girl and her friend are playing with the Bat Cave and Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Cafe, and there's all sorts of thievery happening. Interestingly, there appear to be lots of robbers and no actual cops. Although it's possible that Rapunzel is a private detective.
I know it's not long before all the imaginative play is internalized (or computerized), so I'm enjoying this peek into their busy little brains while I have it!
Thursday, January 06, 2011
rechanneling my discontent
Today's Facebook status (mine) was that I find happiness is easier to achieve and maintain than contentment. Response to this comment was mixed - there was agreement, there was "Contentment is blah", there was a note on how many places happiness is to be found vs. contentment, and there was a mini-lecture on why I need to find God in order to be content. (The person who wrote the last one has genuinely got some tough things going on in her life, and she truly believes what she said. No hard feelings on the lecture, even if she did conflate happiness and contentment.) (Also, this is something I love about Facebook. Comments and responses came from current Mom friends, current writer friend, older gaming friend, and one of my oldest childhood friends.)
Overall, I am very happy with my life, but there are certain aspects with which I am discontented. Notably, and unfortunately, my discontent settles in things that I cannot fix, and does not manifest itself with things that I really should fix. So the challenge is to find a way to take the discontent I feel with certain aspects of my life, and apply that discontent to things (such as diet and exercise, writing, etc.) that I need to change. Or, to put it another way - discontent can be a synonym for ambition, if used properly. How to do that, however, is another topic that I'll have to stew on for a bit. I'll let you know what I come up with.
Overall, I am very happy with my life, but there are certain aspects with which I am discontented. Notably, and unfortunately, my discontent settles in things that I cannot fix, and does not manifest itself with things that I really should fix. So the challenge is to find a way to take the discontent I feel with certain aspects of my life, and apply that discontent to things (such as diet and exercise, writing, etc.) that I need to change. Or, to put it another way - discontent can be a synonym for ambition, if used properly. How to do that, however, is another topic that I'll have to stew on for a bit. I'll let you know what I come up with.
Monday, January 03, 2011
book reviews
My first book reviews of the new year! The final book count for the new year - 109 books on the to-be-read shelf. Hoping to reduce that number significantly this year!
Irene Hunt, No Promises in the Wind. I picked this up on impulse, unusually enough, because it was written by the same author as Across Five Aprils, which is a simple but profoundly moving book about a young boy's experiences growing up during the Civil War. No Promises in the Wind is about a young boy in the Depression, but I felt it was far less simple. The main protagonist was aggressively unsympathetic, which felt as though it was meant to make him seem relatable, but actually just made him seem headstrong and foolish. The experiences seemed overly fortuitous, and the ending failed to pay off emotionally. Quite a disappointment.
Janette Oke, Love's Enduring Promise. This, again, is a simple book. But it's also a lovely book about the growth of a family on the frontier. I've read it many times, and it continues to speak to me.
James L. Swanson, Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer. A very informative and enjoyable book. It contains the clearest and most vivid description of the events surrounding the actual assassination that I've ever seen, and the account of Booth's long-drawn-out escape attempt is suspensefully told. Well worth reading.
Sandra L. Oliver, Food in Colonial and Federal America. This book is an exhaustively detailed look at food and foodways all over America in the colonial and Federal eras. Not just what people at, but how they prepared it and how they got it, as well. For me, the most disappointing part of the book was the abysmally poor proofreading. For a university press book (which had quite the hefty price tag when new), it was remarkably large number of errors. I itched for a red pen!
Irene Hunt, No Promises in the Wind. I picked this up on impulse, unusually enough, because it was written by the same author as Across Five Aprils, which is a simple but profoundly moving book about a young boy's experiences growing up during the Civil War. No Promises in the Wind is about a young boy in the Depression, but I felt it was far less simple. The main protagonist was aggressively unsympathetic, which felt as though it was meant to make him seem relatable, but actually just made him seem headstrong and foolish. The experiences seemed overly fortuitous, and the ending failed to pay off emotionally. Quite a disappointment.
Janette Oke, Love's Enduring Promise. This, again, is a simple book. But it's also a lovely book about the growth of a family on the frontier. I've read it many times, and it continues to speak to me.
James L. Swanson, Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer. A very informative and enjoyable book. It contains the clearest and most vivid description of the events surrounding the actual assassination that I've ever seen, and the account of Booth's long-drawn-out escape attempt is suspensefully told. Well worth reading.
Sandra L. Oliver, Food in Colonial and Federal America. This book is an exhaustively detailed look at food and foodways all over America in the colonial and Federal eras. Not just what people at, but how they prepared it and how they got it, as well. For me, the most disappointing part of the book was the abysmally poor proofreading. For a university press book (which had quite the hefty price tag when new), it was remarkably large number of errors. I itched for a red pen!
Saturday, January 01, 2011
the year in sentences
Well, 2011 sure showed up fast! The past year has flown by. Let's see what went on here on the ol' blog.
January: Time to go retrospective and see what 2009 brought to the blog.
February: The content of our TiVo is always in flux, although the kids' tastes change a lot faster than ours.
March: That was my house growing up.
April: This spring has brought about a bit of a lovely surprise - the advantage of sharing a personality with someone.
May: I find I'm not very sentimental these days.
June: Today my giant blond kid turns 8.
July: Summer does tend to mess with my schedule, which is why the blog is getting updated even less often than usual.
August: Oh, it's good to be home!
September: I just finished reading Anne Fraser's Gideon Redoak.
October: Oh, my poor neglected blog, how lonely you must be sitting out here in cyberspace unupdated.
November: I was low-energy for Halloween this year.
December: Apparently this is reality TV week over here.
What do we learn? I like books and TV, I don't update my blog often enough, and I spent 2010 at a low emotional rev. And there we have it! I doubt any of those will change much this year, but we shall see!
January: Time to go retrospective and see what 2009 brought to the blog.
February: The content of our TiVo is always in flux, although the kids' tastes change a lot faster than ours.
March: That was my house growing up.
April: This spring has brought about a bit of a lovely surprise - the advantage of sharing a personality with someone.
May: I find I'm not very sentimental these days.
June: Today my giant blond kid turns 8.
July: Summer does tend to mess with my schedule, which is why the blog is getting updated even less often than usual.
August: Oh, it's good to be home!
September: I just finished reading Anne Fraser's Gideon Redoak.
October: Oh, my poor neglected blog, how lonely you must be sitting out here in cyberspace unupdated.
November: I was low-energy for Halloween this year.
December: Apparently this is reality TV week over here.
What do we learn? I like books and TV, I don't update my blog often enough, and I spent 2010 at a low emotional rev. And there we have it! I doubt any of those will change much this year, but we shall see!
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