Book Talk

I haven't gotten around to reading (or buying, for that matter) this month's book club pick: Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza.  I may pick it up at some point when I'm back in a non-fiction mood.  Recently, however, I have managed to read three engrossing, fictional page-turners, and I think you'll like them, too.

Earlier this summer, I saw Save Me featured in a handful of magazines and on "The Today Show" as a new must-read.  Although it is a newer release only available in hardback, I found it on amazon.com for just a few dollars.  What an incredible book.  Rose, your seemingly average mom, is volunteering at her daughter's elementary school when the unthinkable happens and she is forced into making an impossible decision.  In the aftermath, Rose is deemed a hero, the very worst kind of villain, and everything in between.  In a situation that tests her character, her emotional and physical strength, her self-worth, and her relationships, Rose emerges as a strong and beloved character.  If you're looking for a book you can't put down, it's Save Me.

It had been a long time since I'd read an Anita Shreve book, but when we were in MN a couple weeks ago, my mom had just finished Rescue so I borrowed it from her.  There are some authors that are just good go-tos for me, and I knew going in that between Shreve's writing style and her captivating story-telling I would be sucked into this book.  Webster is an EMT in the same small Vermont town where he grew up, and after a series of events, he finds himself raising his young daughter on his own.  This story challenges that idea that love is enough, and makes the reader question how a mother could ever choose anything over her child.  Webster's character is endearing, and the story as a whole is heartbreaking and beautiful all at once.

The Bright Forever is another one of my MN bookshelf finds.  The author, Lee Martin, is a the director of the creative writing program at The Ohio State University, and it's obvious in his writing.  This story is told from various points of view; each character tells his or her side, and the narrator gets a turn once in a while, too.  The writing is literally without flaw.  Even if you dislike the story, you'll be caught up in the perfection of the prose.  But you won't dislike this story.  With an eeriness that will remind you of "American Beauty" and The Lovely Bones, you'll find yourself turning pages well past your bedtime.

"Yet a little while we linger,

Ere we reach our journey's end;

Yet a little while of labor,

Ere the evening shades descend;

Then we'll lay us down to slumber,

But the night will soon be o'er;

In the bright, the bright forever,

We shall wake, to weep no more."

The Bright Forever by Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)

Wordless Wednesday

Where Were You?

Over the course of my life, there have been three days about which I can easily recall most minute-by-minute details.  One is June 21, 1994, one is December 11, 2008, and the other is September 11, 2001.  I was in my junior year of college, living at the Alpha Gam house in the middle room on second new.  I was getting ready for class, up a little earlier than I normally would have been on a Tuesday because my Young Adult Lit class was meeting at the Ames Public Library instead of on campus.  As usual, I flipped on The Today Show for background noise and entertainment.  At one point, as I walked from the bathroom into my room, I saw Katie Couric talking about an accident in NYC after the first plane had hit.  As I stood and watched, the second plane hit, and there was an instant shift in the perceived cause.  It became clear very quickly that this was no accident.

I had to leave to go to class, and when I got there, a few others had also seen or heard some coverage.  My professor, Donna Niday, hadn't heard anything about it yet, and we continued with class as normal.  By the time I returned home from class, many girls had gathered to watch coverage.  The situation seemed to just be getting worse and worse.  I remember feeling scared and incredibly helpless.  I called my mom and asked her through tears what was happening to our country.  I couldn't begin to wrap my mind around such a selfish, senseless act and its horrifying impact.  I don't think any of us could.

This year, as I reflect on 9/11 - as I know we all do - I'm finding myself really thinking about the families of the victims.  I remember the 10th anniversary of my dad's passing, and I remember feeling all day long that something significant should happen on that day.  Nothing did, but I spent that day anticipating ... I'm not sure what, but something.  So now as the families of the 9/11 victims find themselves still moving forward ten years later, I wonder what they are thinking and feeling.  Every effort that has been made to fight those responsible and to rebuild what was lost, while noble, doesn't bring someone back.  Politics and personal beliefs aside, I think we can all agree to take some time to think not only about the victims, but those who were left to live without them.  

I think about how my life has changed as a result of 9/11, and I didn't know anybody killed in the attacks.  On top of losing freedoms and a feeling of safety, consider the magnitude of having lost a loved one that day.  Today, my thoughts are with the husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers who are waking up to another day - another year - without a person they didn't deserve to lose.   

So Hard to Choose

Pictures, that is.  Every time I return from a MN gathering, it's so hard to pick just a few pictures to post here.  I didn't even bring my camera and I have tons of pictures from which to choose, thanks to my sister, my mom, and my grandma.  Here are a few that sum up our family fun weekend.

Everyone in Minnesota knows that summer isn't complete without a trip to the State Fair.  Yes, Sara ate that entire bag of cotton candy all by herself.  Yes, I worried for one second about the judgement that would surly be cast upon me as a mother.  But then I realized that everyone else there was eating something fried; I took a deep breath of nice, cool air, and went about the rest of my day without another cotton candy worry.

 

There was a brief rain shower during which we ducked into a beer garden complete with live music.  Sweet potato fries and cold Nordeasts held us over while the rain passed through.  Todd enjoyed a cold one while lounging on the prize Steve won after just one attempt at a midway game.  I still don't hide my disgust for the games, but I am past trying to dissuade Steve from playing.

 

 Here's most of the gang, minus picture-taking Mom.  I don't know why I did my hands like that.  I guess I was just so excited and I didn't know where to put them.  Even Sara seems to be giving me a "Mom, seriously?" look.  Hey, I never claim to be cool.

 This year Sara enjoyed a few rides.  She and I went down the big slide on potato sacks, and then she hit the kiddie rides: one in a red car just like the one at Grandma's house, one on a bumpy boat ride that she didn't enjoy, and one on a purple dinosaur that she did happen to enjoy very much, as a matter of fact.

Before we knew it, it was getting dark and our Great Minnesota Get-Together excursion was over.  On Sunday, Foggy Notion played at the Lafayette Club on Lake Minnetonka at their annual Labor Day celebration.  Todd had to leave pretty early to set up, and Steve went along as his roadie.  In the meantime, the girls hit Tavern on France for some late lunch and a scrumptious Bloody Mary or two. 

 At the party, Sara rode a pony, jumped for ages in a bounce house she lovingly dubbed, "The Green Castle," ate more junk, and enjoyed the tunes. The night was capped with an amazing fireworks display.

Watching Sara in The Green Castle confirmed for me that daycare is paying off, if for no other reason than that she can totally hold her own in a confined space with a bunch of other kids all vying for the same spot.  And she also happens to be learning a lot of other things of value.

I loved the sitting on a blanket in my jeans, enjoying the cool weather and the loud music, and having my girl cuddled on my lap at the end of the night.  I had been waiting for this weekend all summer, and it lived up to my very highest hopes and expectations.

 Minnesota is where the heart is.

Fall Line-Up

I'm ready for fall television to begin.  Who's with me?!  Although there are a lot of shows out there that I think I might like to watch, I'm pretty particular about spending my time on only those shows I really enjoy following and absolutely look forward to each week.  It stresses me out if I become committed to too many shows, and even though I can DVR and watch at a later date, I don't like to overextend myself when it comes to television viewing.  I don't know what it says about me that I have to analyze my downtime to this degree.  Moving on ... aside from my weekend commitments to college and pro football, here are the other shows on my "to watch" list this year (this list includes only those shows that I'll loyally watch weekly, and not those that I'll watch once in a while if they happen to be on and if it isn't necessary to see every episode in order to follow (i.e. Law & Order: SVU, Seinfeld reruns, House Hunters, Man vs. Food, etc.)). 

Desperate Housewives on ABC: An old favorite, it's a no-brainer that DH makes my list.  I've watched every episode of this series for seven years straight, and as the show enters its 8th and final season, I can't stop watching now.  I'm looking forward to the drama that will surely ensue on a weekly basis as the show nears its end.  It will be even juicer this season than it has ever been, if that's possible (and it is).  Premier: Sunday, September 25th at 8:00 pm CST.

Pan Am on ABC:  I can't say yet whether I'll maintain a commitment to this show, but the previews have left me intrigued.  It seems to portray a lifestyle that was exciting and glamorous, and one that opened the door to a new generation of the "it" young men and women in the 1960s.  Christina Ricci stars in the series, and while at the moment I cannot name a single film or show she has been in since "Casper" circa 1995, I think she'll be a good fit here.  If the show lasts, and if I last as a viewer, Pan Am could potentially replace DH for me when it goes off the air.  Premier: Sunday, September 25th at 9:00 pm CST.

Parenthood on NBC: I watched Season 1, skipped Season 2, and am contemplating returning for Season 3 (I actually found myself missing it last year).  I love the poignant story lines, the raw emotion, and the endearing way the actors manage come across as just regular people like the rest of us.  Lauren Graham stars among a great cast.  At this point I'm just debating how important (if at all) it will be for me to go back and watch Season 2.  Premier: Tuesday, September 13th at 9:00 pm CST.

The Office on NBC:  While we're unsure of what to expect now that Steve Carell has left the show, it's long been a favorite in our home, so we'll keep watching.  The Office will remain on our viewing list as long as it keeps being funny; if it becomes more of a dramedy, as was the case in a handful of recent episodes, we may have to consider ending the relationship.  (Notice, this is the only show about which I'll use the pronouns our and we ... for those other shows listed above, I'm on my own).  Premier: Thursday, September 22nd at 8:00 pm CST.

What's on your list this season?

DIY Make-Up

I'm really not a big do-it-yourself-er.  I'd like to be, but I don't have the combination of the eye, the patience, and the time at this point in my life.  I'm lucky to get something hung straight on the wall (or hung at all, now that I think of a mirror in the guest room that's been resting against the wall for nearly a year).  Maybe someday I'll branch out.  The title of this post is actually deceiving because I didn't really make my own make-up.  But I did use my old make-up containers to make something for Sara. 

Recently she has been very interested in my make-up and other products.  I gave her a powder brush and mirror to carry around with her, but those items were not satisfactory for long.  After telling myself to quit fighting the fact that my two-and-a-half year old daughter is interested in make-up, I came up with a solution that would satisfy her and also keep me from worrying about finding bits of make-up smashed into the carpet, couches, clothing, and so on.

 I cleaned out two of my old make-up containers, using toothpicks to remove the last traces of blush and eye-shadow.  I then used a variety of nail polish colors to paint the make-up trays, and ...viola: make-up! 

Cheap and easy and a happy girl to boot. Love it!

The Basics

Earlier this evening, as we approached the end of an exhausting week, we opted a low-key family movie night.  I made popcorn the old-fashioned way on the stove.  We gathered on the couch and watched "Mary Poppins" (or, if you ask Sara, "Hary Moppins").  To share such simple pleasures -- especially ones that were part of my own childhood -- with my girl just makes my heart happy.  When everything around us moves so quickly, when we're busy with work and life, and when time goes by faster than we'd like it to, it's nice to be able to slow down and enjoy each other.  Sometimes basic is best.