John Berendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I've read this one before, but it never fails to entertain. Berendt's love letter to the city of Savannah showcases the good and the bad about the city, but shines the brightest spotlight on the unique.
Melissa Wiley, Beyond the Heather Hills. This final installment in the Martha series showed her growing maturity and awareness of the world outside her little village. It would be nice if the series went on, but this was a good capper.
Kathryn Kenny, Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Whispering Witch. The upper numbers of this series (this is # 32) tend to feel rather rushed. They don't show the care and the character development of the earlier stories, which is a shame. They're still enjoyable, however, and I look forward to acquiring the (fairly rare) volumes at the end of the series.
Deborah Copaken Kogan, Hell Is Other Parents. This one started off interestingly - it's a series of essays on life and parenting, and began from a perspective that I sympathize with ... but then it devolved into more a series of tales of the author's life, which I found less interesting. Not a bad read, but I wouldn't read it again.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
random thoughts
My five random thoughts for this peaceful Monday afternoon.
1. I find for background entertainment while I'm working/writing/doing laundry in the afternoons, I like CSI, Numb3rs, and Cold Case reruns and old episodes of Kitchen Nightmares. The American version of the latter is more dumbed down than the British version, with the voice-overs telling you everything you need to know. Also, generally the American restaurant owners are far more belligerent ... although whether that says more about the actual temperament of American chefs vs. British or more about the kind of chefs chosen by American production teams, I don't know.
2. I just started rereading the Trixie Belden series. I had forgotten what an impatient, rude girl she starts the series off as - but she improves rapidly. I doubt I'll review each installment as I go, since I've read them all already.
3. My oldest child is sprouting up like a weed. His pants and pajamas are outgrown faster than I can keep up with, which means if I get behind on the laundry, even a little, he runs out.
4. I should figure out what to have for dinner.
5. Trying to get back to an exercise routine - working out every morning after I put the boys on the bus. It's usually time I don't do a lot with anyway, so it seems like a good opportunity to get back on the treadmill.
1. I find for background entertainment while I'm working/writing/doing laundry in the afternoons, I like CSI, Numb3rs, and Cold Case reruns and old episodes of Kitchen Nightmares. The American version of the latter is more dumbed down than the British version, with the voice-overs telling you everything you need to know. Also, generally the American restaurant owners are far more belligerent ... although whether that says more about the actual temperament of American chefs vs. British or more about the kind of chefs chosen by American production teams, I don't know.
2. I just started rereading the Trixie Belden series. I had forgotten what an impatient, rude girl she starts the series off as - but she improves rapidly. I doubt I'll review each installment as I go, since I've read them all already.
3. My oldest child is sprouting up like a weed. His pants and pajamas are outgrown faster than I can keep up with, which means if I get behind on the laundry, even a little, he runs out.
4. I should figure out what to have for dinner.
5. Trying to get back to an exercise routine - working out every morning after I put the boys on the bus. It's usually time I don't do a lot with anyway, so it seems like a good opportunity to get back on the treadmill.
Friday, March 25, 2011
good playdates
It's a relief to have all three children old enough for one-on-one playdates. Nice for them, bonus time to play with their friends, and nice for me, because the extra child in the house often provides a distraction from my own children's numerous demands.
Of course, not all playdates are created equal. Sometimes I have to listen closely to the conversations, monitor the activity choice, or even engineer the activity choice if there's a serious disconnect between the two children's interests.
More often than not, however, I listen as the playdate's activities and mine revolve around each other and appreciate the glimpse into my own children's lives and minds. They play with their friends differently than they play on their own or with each other, topics come up that I otherwise might not know they were thinking of, and it's a great opportunity to really see how my kids come across to their friends.
Of course, not all playdates are created equal. Sometimes I have to listen closely to the conversations, monitor the activity choice, or even engineer the activity choice if there's a serious disconnect between the two children's interests.
More often than not, however, I listen as the playdate's activities and mine revolve around each other and appreciate the glimpse into my own children's lives and minds. They play with their friends differently than they play on their own or with each other, topics come up that I otherwise might not know they were thinking of, and it's a great opportunity to really see how my kids come across to their friends.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
lunch
It's an interesting concept, lunch. Everyone in my house deals with it differently.
Lou buys his, going out for something hot.
I eat leftovers, peanut butter sandwiches, or whatever else is handy, as I try to fit lunch into the various things I want to do while Veronica naps.
The boys either buy lunch at school (and I will never understand why the school's computerized system can't let me know they're running low on funds before they run out instead of after), or they take their lunch. It's a limited list of items they're willing to take, since they can neither heat up food nor keep it cold, they can't take (or in Charles's case, eat) peanut butter anything, and the only lunch meat they'll consider is turkey.
Veronica tends to eat cereal or yogurt and fruit ... or, like today, frozen waffles. Still frozen. With frozen blueberries on top. (While watching it snow ... seriously, it makes me cold just watching her.)
Lou buys his, going out for something hot.
I eat leftovers, peanut butter sandwiches, or whatever else is handy, as I try to fit lunch into the various things I want to do while Veronica naps.
The boys either buy lunch at school (and I will never understand why the school's computerized system can't let me know they're running low on funds before they run out instead of after), or they take their lunch. It's a limited list of items they're willing to take, since they can neither heat up food nor keep it cold, they can't take (or in Charles's case, eat) peanut butter anything, and the only lunch meat they'll consider is turkey.
Veronica tends to eat cereal or yogurt and fruit ... or, like today, frozen waffles. Still frozen. With frozen blueberries on top. (While watching it snow ... seriously, it makes me cold just watching her.)
Monday, March 21, 2011
book reviews
Charles Wainwright, A Diary of Battle. Lou picked this book up for me because of the author's name, but it turns out to have been an excellent choice content-wise, as well. Wainwright rose to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General of Artillery in the Civil War, and his diaries are detailed, thoughtful discussions of battles and political machinations behind the scenes and the daily life of camp and travel.
Melissa Wiley, Down to the Bonny Glen. This third book in the Martha series was much more upbeat than the previous installment, thankfully. Martha's growing thoughts and feelings were realistically drawn and the plot was interesting.
Garry Fisher, Rebel Cornbread and Yankee Coffee. This was a short but interesting book on Civil War food, complete with tested recipes. It also included chapters on songs and other camp entertainments of the war. For a book as densely packed with interesting information as it is, it's also engagingly readable.
Larry E. Morris, The Fate of the Corps. This book tells the story of what happened to the members of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery after they (mostly) returned to civilization. I was looking forward to it, as I don't know much about that era. Sadly, the book is written in a very disorganized style. Each chapter nominally follows a certain set of events, but they are all so peppered with references to each other that it's almost impossible to follow them linearly. Morris seems to assume that anyone reading his book is familiar with most of what he has to say already - he seems mostly to be compiling the stories, rather than laying them out clearly for the reader. A disappointment.
Melissa Wiley, Down to the Bonny Glen. This third book in the Martha series was much more upbeat than the previous installment, thankfully. Martha's growing thoughts and feelings were realistically drawn and the plot was interesting.
Garry Fisher, Rebel Cornbread and Yankee Coffee. This was a short but interesting book on Civil War food, complete with tested recipes. It also included chapters on songs and other camp entertainments of the war. For a book as densely packed with interesting information as it is, it's also engagingly readable.
Larry E. Morris, The Fate of the Corps. This book tells the story of what happened to the members of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery after they (mostly) returned to civilization. I was looking forward to it, as I don't know much about that era. Sadly, the book is written in a very disorganized style. Each chapter nominally follows a certain set of events, but they are all so peppered with references to each other that it's almost impossible to follow them linearly. Morris seems to assume that anyone reading his book is familiar with most of what he has to say already - he seems mostly to be compiling the stories, rather than laying them out clearly for the reader. A disappointment.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
the return of the 8-sided die
Once upon a time, there was a woman who required systems to get anything done. But the systems didn't work, because she just skipped anything on her list that seemed too time-consuming. Then one day she went to a game store with her husband and discovered gamer dice! She came home with a whole new system - 7 dice with various numbers of sides. Productivity was achieved! When she couldn't decide what to do next, she simply rolled the dice.
Then - horrors! - she lost the 8-sided die. Suddenly, the numbers 8 and 7 were fraught with danger, because there was no longer a handy randomization tool to help her past them. Productivity dropped sharply.
And then, the wonderful husband stepped in again, and bought a new 8-sided die - copper, to match the rest of the set. Now the woman is happy and productive again. Thanks, honey!
Then - horrors! - she lost the 8-sided die. Suddenly, the numbers 8 and 7 were fraught with danger, because there was no longer a handy randomization tool to help her past them. Productivity dropped sharply.
And then, the wonderful husband stepped in again, and bought a new 8-sided die - copper, to match the rest of the set. Now the woman is happy and productive again. Thanks, honey!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
the video game diet
One bonus to new games: it doesn't seem worth stopping the game play to go eat. This seems to lead to a general slowdown in overall appetite. If I can maintain it correctly, I can actually achieve my goal of eating smaller portions, less often - my considered and preferred method of dieting.
In other news, Dragon Age 2 nowhere near as disappointing as I expected. :)
In other news, Dragon Age 2 nowhere near as disappointing as I expected. :)
Monday, March 14, 2011
Bucket list
Another Facebook meme dragged over here. To be honest, I've considered the idea of an actual 'bucket list', but it doesn't appeal. There aren't that many unusual and interesting things I'm anxious to do - mostly just enjoy my life, watch my children grow, read a lot of books, spend a lot of time with my husband and my friends, and die quietly in my own bed at a remarkably advanced age. Nonetheless, this is an interesting list.
(X) Skipped school.
( ) Watched someone die
(X) Been to Canada
() Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been lost
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
(X) Sung Karaoke
() Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
() Made prank phone calls
(X) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
() Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies
() Been deep sea fishing
() Driven across the United States
(X) Been in a hot air balloon
() Been sky diving
() Gone snowmobiling
() Lived in more than one country.
(X) Laid outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
() Seen the Statue of Liberty
() Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
() Been on a cruise
(X) Traveled by train
() Traveled by motorcycle
(X) Been horseback riding
(x) Rode on a San Francisco Trolley
(X) Been to Disneyland or Disney World
(X) Seen whales in the ocean
() Been to Niagara Falls
(X) Ridden on an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins
( ) Gone to the top of Mt. Washington
(X) Been to Europe
( ) Been on a Helicopter
(X) Skipped school.
( ) Watched someone die
(X) Been to Canada
() Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been lost
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
(X) Sung Karaoke
() Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
() Made prank phone calls
(X) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
() Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies
() Been deep sea fishing
() Driven across the United States
(X) Been in a hot air balloon
() Been sky diving
() Gone snowmobiling
() Lived in more than one country.
(X) Laid outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
() Seen the Statue of Liberty
() Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
() Been on a cruise
(X) Traveled by train
() Traveled by motorcycle
(X) Been horseback riding
(x) Rode on a San Francisco Trolley
(X) Been to Disneyland or Disney World
(X) Seen whales in the ocean
() Been to Niagara Falls
(X) Ridden on an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins
( ) Gone to the top of Mt. Washington
(X) Been to Europe
( ) Been on a Helicopter
Friday, March 11, 2011
book reviews
Slow month this month, I'm afraid. Still, getting a fair amount of reading done!
Charles Busch, Whores of Lost Atlantis. A funny little romp about a down-on-his-luck actor who puts together a little play that brings together an entertaining cast of characters and spirals into a much bigger thing. Light and campy, but a lot of fun.
Jane Ziegelman, 97 Orchard. Excellent book! It brings together the stories of five immigrant families who lived in a New York tenement building over the course of a century, focusing on the foods they ate. But it doesn't stop there. The author weaves the food history together with the greater history of the countries the families came from, the America (and New York) they came to, and studies how the foods they brought with them changed America, as well as how America changed the families' eating habits. It's an ambitious scope, but she makes it work in an extremely engaging and readable way.
Melissa Wiley, The Far Side of the Loch. While this has the same engaging and detailed stories of daily life as the rest of the series, the author's decision to have the main character be unhappy through most of the book takes away from the feeling a bit. The Little House series as a whole is about stronger characters than that, and this book felt very ... confining. You could sense the character's frustrations, but I didn't really see how the frustrations advanced her character or the overall plot. Not as good as most.
Agatha Christie, Partners in Crime. Secretly, I have always wanted to be Tuppence Beresford. This set of short stories showcases Tuppence and Tommy in all sorts of little mysteries of the kind Agatha Christie does so well (and a bit lighter than Christie's usual fare, which is fun). They pretend to be various fictional detective in the midst of each case, and use their own personal brand of deduction to great effect.
Charles Busch, Whores of Lost Atlantis. A funny little romp about a down-on-his-luck actor who puts together a little play that brings together an entertaining cast of characters and spirals into a much bigger thing. Light and campy, but a lot of fun.
Jane Ziegelman, 97 Orchard. Excellent book! It brings together the stories of five immigrant families who lived in a New York tenement building over the course of a century, focusing on the foods they ate. But it doesn't stop there. The author weaves the food history together with the greater history of the countries the families came from, the America (and New York) they came to, and studies how the foods they brought with them changed America, as well as how America changed the families' eating habits. It's an ambitious scope, but she makes it work in an extremely engaging and readable way.
Melissa Wiley, The Far Side of the Loch. While this has the same engaging and detailed stories of daily life as the rest of the series, the author's decision to have the main character be unhappy through most of the book takes away from the feeling a bit. The Little House series as a whole is about stronger characters than that, and this book felt very ... confining. You could sense the character's frustrations, but I didn't really see how the frustrations advanced her character or the overall plot. Not as good as most.
Agatha Christie, Partners in Crime. Secretly, I have always wanted to be Tuppence Beresford. This set of short stories showcases Tuppence and Tommy in all sorts of little mysteries of the kind Agatha Christie does so well (and a bit lighter than Christie's usual fare, which is fun). They pretend to be various fictional detective in the midst of each case, and use their own personal brand of deduction to great effect.
Monday, March 07, 2011
more weather
I know, I'm a bit obsessed recently. But the weather is warm and the rain is beginning to wash away the snow. My driveway is ice-free. My roof is ice-free! My back porch? Ice-free. The massive snowbanks at the end of my driveway are shorter - I can almost see to turn out of my driveway now. There are patches of grass and pine needles visible. We can see the 3-foot-tall candy canes along the front walkway. And for the first time since December, I can see the diving board of the swimming pool. VERY exciting stuff!
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
book reviews
Erle Stanley Gardner, The Case of the Glamorous Ghost. This was a good installment - Della Street got a bit more to do than usual, the case was a little bigger than the standard murder. On the other hand, the ending was a bit rushed, the district attorney more shrill than usual. Not Perry's best, but enjoyable, nonetheless.
Martha McIntosh, ed., Jan Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader. I'm a fan of the Mitford books and of the down-home meals served in them. The cookbook was interesting and the recipes largely tasty. Not sure I'd buy it again.
Louis L'Amour, Chancy. Chancy's an unusual character for L'Amour - not a natural or experienced mountain man, but a young man from the hills, self-taught. There's a bit more coincidence than you'd expect, and he tends to be more capable than you would imagine he might be, but it's L'Amour, and he makes it work.
John and Abigail Adams, The Letters of ... This is a compilation of all the letters between these two great friends and partners during the Revolutionary Period. Homey, intelligent, loving, they outline the great love story that was this marriage. Well worth reading.
Martha McIntosh, ed., Jan Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader. I'm a fan of the Mitford books and of the down-home meals served in them. The cookbook was interesting and the recipes largely tasty. Not sure I'd buy it again.
Louis L'Amour, Chancy. Chancy's an unusual character for L'Amour - not a natural or experienced mountain man, but a young man from the hills, self-taught. There's a bit more coincidence than you'd expect, and he tends to be more capable than you would imagine he might be, but it's L'Amour, and he makes it work.
John and Abigail Adams, The Letters of ... This is a compilation of all the letters between these two great friends and partners during the Revolutionary Period. Homey, intelligent, loving, they outline the great love story that was this marriage. Well worth reading.
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