The Holidays are Officially Over

This I know because I took my tree down yesterday and the Aggies lost their bowl game!

I do have a couple of friends coming over last night and I guess we'll stay up until midnight and ring in the new year...and wait for our children to come home who are out ringing in the new year elsewhere...but that's it.

Looking Back and Forward

As the old year ends and the new year begins, we always tend to look back and think of all the things we didn't accomplish and try to set better goals for ourselves next year...I think that's such a negative way of looking at things. This past year has certainly been topsy turvy for me, at many times I thought "what the hell am I up to anyway?" but I've learned a lot and am certainly in different place than I was last year--for better and worse--and that's pretty much been the theme for my entire life. I grow, I shrink, I think, I act rashly, I love, I hate...but no matter what I do I try really really hard to do my best at everything...and honestly that can be a bit overwhelming as I think we humans have a reservoir for stress and mine has flooded so many times....

A few of the highlights and lowlights from 2007:

• I passed my comprehensive exams in June
• I quit my regular day-to-day job and went independent in February
• I fired a client in October, much to the dismay of my financial outlook
• I learned to weave in October
• I passed my preliminary proposal in December
• I went to Europe in May/June
• I've made new friends this year
• I've made big strides to improve my marital relationship
• I've tried really hard to be a good parent to teenagers, though my tongue is raw most days (from biting it), I think I'm doing a fairly good job
• I did not lose the 20 pounds I wanted to
• I did not do a good job of staying away from sweets

Things I definitely want to accomplish in 2008

• Experiment with weaving and try to become good at it
• Pass my proposal
• Lose 20 pounds and keep it off
• Be a good parent to my teenagers and help them get prepared for life on their own
• Be a good wife to my husband and prepare ourselves for a life of our own
• Continue to develop my good friendships
• Go to Europe in May/June

It shipped!

Should be here by Wednesday!

Merry Christmas!

I wish a Merry Christmas to all...I hope you got everything you wished for. I did. It's been a very happy Christmas for all around here.

My presents included:

• 2 needlepoint canvases--Cat Hugger and Sunflower House
• 3 books
• a Tiffany gift card (to buy a heart charm for my collection)
• a journal to write my weaving progress in (should I ever get my loom)
• 3 cross stitch patterns
• and in my stocking 6 different yarns from a "grab bag"...I love them all.

Anniversary Gift

In the big box Mom asked about was...the beautiful red purse I have on my shoulder in the previous entry...and a turquoise heart charm to go with my collection. A very nice "haul" indeed :)

17th Anniversary

David and I celebrated our 17th anniversary on Saturday by going out to dinner and spending a fun evening together.

Just a Quick Update

Things here have been going and going...here are a few high points:

• Today is David's birthday--Happy Birthday David!
• I'm still waiting for my loom!
• Elizabeth got her braces off one month ago. I'm still waiting to get a picture of her for the blog
• I'm buying yarn and doing everything I can to set up my weaving studio...but...
• I'm still waiting for my loom!
• I'm having good responses to my pre-proposal. That means I'll be writing a dissertation proposal in January.
• I'm very happy and comfortable with my half-time employment and graduate student status.
• My 17th Anniversary is Saturday. I cannot wait to open that big box that's been sitting in my room for WEEKS now!
• I'm really enjoying The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett. I like it so much I know I can stop in the middle of a page or chapter and get right back to it because I'll be thinking about it most of the time I'm not reading.
• I have jury duty next week. Not looking forward to it, but it will be a fact of life for the next year.
• We are hosting a Christmas party next weekend. Really looking forward to that. I'm cooking pumpkin pasta--vegetarian--and Christmas pasta, both from Rachel Ray's 365 No Repeats (the best cookbook I've ever owned).
• I'm beginning to seriously plan a trip back to Wimberley for more weaving lessons.
• My loom still hasn't arrived!

On that last point, I'm off to see if I can find a suitable substitute to get me weaving in the down time while waiting on the loom. I have a peg-loom but I wasn't really very happy with it, so I'm going to see if I can find Harrisville's Easy Weaver that has a warp already on it. It's pretty simple but will allow me to work with the yarns I already have and make something more interesting than a 9x11 thing...

More Dreams

I think my recent spate of vivid dreams is probably more because of the fact that I'm finally sleeping without stress...

Last night I dreamed that David was out getting food--all kinds of "bad" food. Jelly Bellies on the counter in a giant 5 pound bag (they really have them, btw, just go to Office Depot!), cakes, cookies, bags of stuff from Chili's. Candy, ice cream...you name it. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to eat it all but I did. I couldn't choose just a little bit of something and knew if I started eating I wouldn't stop until it was all gone. Some of it was gross, too, having sat on the counter for several hours while I slept.

I woke up with the dream unresolved. I always have dreams of guiltily eating "bad for you" food when I'm trying to eat healthily. Sometimes it's so delectable that I can't believe I went this long witout chocolate cake...sometimes I feel so guilty. This time I was over-awed.

Betsy

I name all my angels and since my dear Aunt Betty bought this canvas for me, I've named my Angel Tree in honor of her!

Dreaming

My dreams have been kind of crazy lately. I've been dreaming of my typical dreams--new parts of my house that I didn't know about or use, climbing hills/stairs, being angry or frustrated with the kids. I've even been dreaming of weaving again, which is nice because I worried when I stopped that my infatuation with weaving was just that and after I went and spent a lot of money on a loom and accessories to set up my studio, an infatuation just wouldn't satisfy!

But, I've also been having weird dreams where I'm dreaming that I'm dreaming and talking in my sleep. Imagine this. I'm dreaming that I'm working on a puzzle and I figure it out, I say enthusiastically "Score!" and I wake up thinking that I've just said it outloud. I've had other dreams where I've been talking to David or going places and waking up thinking that I was really doing the talking and not just dreaming the talking. David has assured me that I haven't awakened him with my talking, but that doesn't mean I'm not talking in my sleep (or is it my dreams?) I've even had dreams that I'm talking in my sleep and realizing that I'm doing it and then I'm really embarrassed or worried about what I've said.

It's weird and keeps happening...it's almost as annoying as my losing my teeth dreams--and don't worry, I'm still having those too!

Christmas Tree

Didn't get it...

Didn't get the job. I'm surprised and a little disappointed, but not overly so...

Back to focusing on dissertation writing and waiting for the appropriate job!

Job Interview

I have a job interview at USM this afternoon. I have mixed feelings about whether I want a full-time regular job. I've enjoyed consulting and being able to set my own schedule, but I haven't enjoyed the lack of certainty about contracts and paychecks. Plus I had committed to spending the next year focusing on my dissertations. The question that arises is will the job, if I get it, interfere with the dissertation or push me to complete it because I'll be less stressed? Or will I be more stressed since I'll be working in yet another position that has not been in place before (in other words, I'll be the first "me" again as I have been in every single job I've had in Mississippi)? There's the old panic of when I'll manage to get everything I've been doing the past year at home (shopping, clothes washing, cooking, accounting, etc.)? But, there's a paycheck, regular insurance, tuition reimbursement, etc...stability.

Book Review, of sorts

I loved Faking It! by Jennifer Crusie. She's a terrific writer, has a great easy-to-read style, and her characters are so much fun. I found myself not wanting to finish the book because I didn't want my time with these people to be over.

Other than that, I don't have much to say--or I have too much to say and I'm simply too tired to say it. If you like a contemporary, fun, light and easy-to-read book that won't challenge you too hard, go read Crusie...there's just something about her that makes life fun. And that's a good thing!

I've been a busy girl

At least I think I have. I've been tired in the evenings and feel like my whole day has been running from one project to the other, but I don't know what specifically I've managed to accomplish other than getting the Christmas tree up, finally, and wrapping presents as they are delivered.

My good news is that I have a job interview on Friday. I feel good about the interview and hopeful that it'll turn into an offer...guess we'll see where it goes.

Still waiting on my loom and hoping that I haven't totally forgotten everything I learned in weaving class!

The Holidays have Officially Begun

David and I are talking about how we'd like to decorate the tree. The kids are asking when we're going to put it up. We're planning our trip to Texas for Thanksgiving and are even getting to meet up with friends we met in Europe along the way. The Christmas cards are addressed, stamped and awaiting the family photo. Presents are even bought and some are wrapped--others are on their way.

Oh, and my birthday is this week...always a marker for the "start" of the holidays even though it's 2 days after Thanksgiving this year.

Let me know some of your favorite holiday traditions. I'll be writing about some of mine after I get back from my trip.

...And I take a bow...

...Because I believe I'm the first person in America who is actually finished with her Christmas shopping!

Book Review: The Second Mrs. Darcy by Elizabeth Aston

The Second Mrs. Darcy by Elizabeth Aston is really quite an enjoyable book. I had a little trouble getting into it, but once I did, I didn't want it to end. I really enjoyed the main character Octavia. She developed into a fully grown and enjoyable woman who was independent and willing to do what it takes to fight for that independence.

The synopsis of the book is that Octavia Darcy is recently widowed and left very poor by her husband, Christopher Darcy whose first wife gambled him into serious debt. Since his property is entailed, it goes to the nearest male cousin. Fate would smile on Octavia, however, in the form of a great-aunt who died and left her her vast estates and wealth. Octavia, overnight, becomes a very wealthy woman.

The remainder of the book is focused on love matches between several of the characters a-la Jane Austen, and is quite fun and interesting to read. As I said, I really didn't want this book to end, and I can only hope that Aston revisits Octavia, but if the past four books are indication, she won't. I enjoyed this one more than the previous three, I think, because Octavia is a young woman, not a teenager growing up. If you like a good story, get this book.

Vignette #6

Alyssa and Elizabeth got in from church around 8:30 last night and brought up some conversation they were having with their youth leader that had to do with old laws on the books that aren't really applicable any more.

And the one that E quoted was that Mississippi law made illegal "any sexual positions but the military position."

"Missionary" Alyssa prompted, but David and I were already rolling in the floor.

That "Thornton" Luck

David often comments about "that Thornton luck" when referring to why I tend to win things that have no skill involved (drawings, slot machine, etc.). What he's referring to isn't "technically" Thornton, but we'll pretend that it is since the name Thornton is associated with all the lucky people in my family.

First there's my grandmother, Emma Thornton. She seems to always win little things from the radio, newspaper, etc.

Then there's my dad who won a new truck a few years ago in a local raffle.

And mom who won several thousand dollars in Las Vegas on only a few spins of the slot machine. She wisely didn't temp her luck, or she may have left Vegas a millionaire.

I've always won things. When I was a kid I had a knack for picking out the cereal boxes with the winning game piece. I had so many junky games and toys in my closet when I moved to college that it was a little surprising. I won a $1000 worth of jewelry from a local jewelry store when I was a freshman in college. I won a pizza party for 15 of my favorite friends from a radio station that same semester. While I've never stuck it big in the casinos, I do tend to leave with more money than I came with--same at the horse races...so I do consider myself a lucky person, though I've never won the lottery, which is really a dream of mine. Imagine $20 million. What I could do with that.

Another "lucky" trait I have is being called for jury duty. When I moved away to college Limestone County called me several times even after I'd registered to vote in another county. Since living in Mississippi, I've been called 6 times...this most recent for federal jury duty. I have to go to Jackson today to see if I'm going to be picked for the jury. I really hope not because I'm in the smack middle of so many things that putting them on hold for however many days/weeks it takes for this trial to work itself out may be really frustrating.

I've been fussed at by one of my friends for wanting to shirk my civic duty, but I do have to ask if being called for jury duty once a year is typical. And I can't seem to get the picture out of my head of me sitting in the jury box bored out of my skull and wanting nothing more than to run away and scream...

Where did the week go?

It's been a busy week. I can't think of anything major that I've accomplished other than revising and turning in my pre-proposal (a nice step, but not much work). I have gotten my hair done--it looks nice. I took my ring in for re-sizing, ordered and purchased a weaving loom and supplies for my studio, went to book club and hosted sewing group. My friend from California has been here to go to his friend's funeral--she died of leukemia and was about 5 years younger than me. I've also gone through all my quilts and quilting fabric and made a fairly substantial donation to the children's quilts of our local guild. They are working on quilts for children of soldiers deployed to Iraq.

And underneath it all, all I want to do is weave...and I can't, so I bide my time and try to keep myself from itching too bad until the loom gets here sometime around Christmas...

Taking the Plunge

I took the plunge and ordered a 36" 8 shaft, 10 treadle hand weaving loom today! I'm very excited and don't know how I'm ever going to wait the 6-8 weeks it will take to be completed and delivered.

In the meantime here's a picture of my loom during class...it's smaller than the one I'll get, but the same logic.

Vignette #5

Elizabeth comes in from hanging out with her friends and sits on the couch next to me: You know I think you and dad are hypocritical.

Me: You'd better explain yourself or leave.

E: Well, you expect us to get a job but you won't buy us a second car so that we can both get to the job.

Me: Your dad has offered multiple times to drop you off and pick you up whenver you're working and don't have the car. You don't need a second car for that.

E: But getting me a new volkswagon beatle convertible--in green if you want to make it really special--would save you the trouble.

Me: Or you can get a job nearby and walk to it. McAlister's or Gold Post would be really easy. Or, if you want, you can just deal with being dropped off because we're not buying another car.

E: I'll be happy with a USED one if you need it.

Me: This is going nowhere. I'm not buying you a new car. You'll have to deal with things the way they are.

E: But is SO EMBARASSING to have your parents drop you off at your job.

Me: Oh well...

Weaving Class Day #3

I was too excited to tell what I did yesterday...I played with patterns. After warping the loom and getting the warp ready to weave, she told us to play around with different patterns. The bottom half of the picture above was completed on Day #2. I found that I have a significant interest in patterns...so much so that I couldn't sleep last night dreaming up new ways to do patterns!

Today we learned to read weaving drafts, which are like blueprints for weavers. Then we got to play with fibers, or threads. We could pick anything in the shop that was on a cone and weave to our heart's content. I did not do any fancy patterns, this time, but did enjoy getting to feel all the different kinds of threads available.

So, above you have me and my sampler. I absolutely LOVE weaving. I have to go home now and figure out how to make room for a loom and all the weaving accoutrements you need! Donations are accepted :)

WEaving Class Day #2

I'm hooked...

Weaving Class Day #1

Today I

• planned a project
• created my warp
• tied the warp off
• threaded the warp through the reed
• threaded the warp through the heddles
• tied the warp to the back bar
• tied the warp to the front bar

It really was quite a lot of work and whew! I'm tired! Thankfully Janice is making a dinner that smells yummalicious!

I'll have pictures when I get back home as I forgot to bring my cords! yikes!

Vignette #4

E, running in the house and slamming down the car keys—clearly in a tizzy: I’m not ever driving her around anywhere.

A not screaming but clearly high-pitched and distressed: Well, what am I supposed to do when you were about to hit a car? Be silent and get hurt?

E: I wasn’t about to hit a car!

A: Yes you were!

Me: Can we stop screaming please? What’s all this about?

E and A simultaneously: “She yells at me when I drive”
“She doesn’t drive like I do and we almost hit a car.”

Me: Let’s talk about this reasonably—I attempt to do so, doesn’t work, I send them to their room to calm down until they can talk reasonably.

About 10 minutes later:

E: I’m serious, I’m not driving her around.

Me: That’s fine, then you don’t drive.

E: That’s not fair.

Me: Sure it is. It’s my car and I can decide who drives and when. If you won’t share the car then you don’t have the right to drive it.

At this point they start arguing with each other again.

Me breaking in: I will sell the car if the two of you can’t come to some agreement about how you’ll drive and ride together.

A: I won’t complain about how you drive, but I will mention if we’re about to hit another car.

E: That’s fine and I’ll do the same.

And it was over. No other mention, no more upset feelings, no anger…just over.

Vacation Pictures

As promised, pictures from our vacation...

Aaah, Vacation

David and I had so much relaxation on our vacation that coming home as been rather shocking...not because anything is bad, but because we can't spend our days as we did on the beach...and we really enjoyed ourselves at the beach. I should have a pic or two up on the blog in a few days.

In a nutshell we:

• played lots of games: monopoly, dominoes, backgammon and battleship
• put together a 1000 piece puzzle
• read 2 books a piece
• talked
• went out to dinner
• walked on the beach once--but it was too windy to really do much else
• drove around looking at all the new construction...did you know that for only $3,000,000 you can buy a 5500 square foot condo?
• slept late
• shopped
• met our friends in Mobile for lunch on our way home.

Can't wait to get back!

A Happy Couple

This happy couple is about to take a bona fide business retreat. We are both much in need of some serious downtime. So, until Thursday next week, I'm at the beach!

The Tunnel

David and I have started walking daily on our local rails-to-trails bike and walking trail. It's not always lovely considering that south Mississippi is probably always the most humid in the morning, but it is nice to have a destination and then be required to come back. I can't wimp out and say "I'm too tired or hot or whatever to continue." About 3/4 mile into the walk there is a tunnel that goes under a busy street. It's a fairly long tunnel--probably 20 yards or more--and it' actually dark inside, and cool and all the other wonderful things you want when you're hot and sweaty.

This week we upped our mileage to three miles and when I see that tunnel on our return trip--about 2 1/4 miles, remember, I'm thinking..."there's the tunnel and I can see the light at the end of it."

And metaphorically that's where I am today. I completed my first draft of a 133 page report. It was a grueling couple of weeks, but I'm proud of it tonight. When I look at it on the other side of the tunnel tomorrow, it may not be so pretty, but today I'm happy...very happy actually...so happy that I could just fall asleep on the couch and not move until I get up to do my 3 mile walk tomorrow morning...

...and I can honestly say that I think I'm looking forward to the beach even more than I thought possible!

And btw, this is a picture of a tunnel in Ireland which, though it doesn't look exactly like our tunnel, reminds me of it somehow...

Busy...

Been busy lately, that's why I've been incommunicado...I think if I were to actually go back and look, I've been working 10-12 hours every day for the past two weeks. The big crunch is over on Friday, thank goodness...then David and I be here for 4.5 days.

One Happy Girl, Part II

Elizabeth got her driver's license today!

Sheer Joy

I bought this amazingly soft fuzzy blanket in Ireland 3 years ago, and Lochi tried to eat it, so I had to put it away. I got it out yesterday to warm my cool feet, and she immediately hopped on, laid down, and got comfy. She's barely moved since (and luckly isn't trying to eat it).

When I was a little girl...

...I liked to organize things. I could entertain myself for hours playing with simple things like buttons and organizing and reorganizing them according to whatever whim happened to come across my mind at the time: color, shape, material, number of holes, etc. I organized the cans of food in the cabinets, the dishes, my clothes, my mom's clothes.

One of my favorite things to do was let things in my room get really really messy so I could clean it up. I would organize my light bright pegs by color. I kept them in old egg cartons. I had a process by which I organized the colors. First I would throw them all on the floor and mix them up really good, then I would create a design of my choosing on the entire light bright board. Then I would take the upper left-most colored peg and have that as my "base". I would then take all the other pegs on the board of the same color and start switching them with the ones next to the base color so that they lined up left to right and up and down. I would continue doing this until all the colors were organized. Then I would remove the pegs by color and put them in the egg cartons. I could be amused by this activity all afternoon.

Upon reflection I'm kind of surprised that I was never suspected as being mildly autistic.

Book Review: Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

Normally I would wait to give the book review for book club until the day we meet, but I'm afraid I can't curb my enthusiasm for 2 more weeks.

I loved this book--for the 3rd time reading it. I wrote two papers about this book, and a couple of others by Cather, in graduate school. Cather is one of the truly good American writers. You almost get the feeling of reading poetry in her prose, every word is so carefully chosen and every sentence of meticulously constructed. Yet, her writing isn't difficult to read or understand and flows off the page almost in a dream like way.

Death Comes for the Archbishop is the story of two priests who go to "tame" the diocese of New Mexico. Their charge is to build churches and missions throughout the region and to bring the Catholic faith to the Native Americans. The story is based on the real lives of Fathers Lamy (Latour) and Machebeuf (Vaillant) and traces them from their arrival as young men to their deaths as old men. Vaillant is by far the more aggressive and hands on missionary, but Latour is more reflective and spiritual. His acceptance of the native faith and appreciation for the giving nature of the Mexicans impresses the reader.

Told in a vignette style, we meet the many faces and facets of life as a priest in the "wild west": The rich landowners, the native spirituality and unrest, the lawless man, the spiritual woman, the giving mother, the repentent sinner. They are all there. Nature provides the backdrop fo growth and development of all the characters as well as the church which seems to be the central theme for Father Latour--build the church and establish a permanence in the region.

Death Comes for the Archbishop is one of my favorite Cather books. I love her writing style as well as her character development. Her love of space and landscape and how it impacts the people involved is unparalleled.

Death Comes for the Archbishop--In Pictures

I'll do a review next week on Death Comes for the Archbishop, but today I wanted to post pictures from my trip to Santa Fe in December. When I read Death Comes for the Archbishop the first time, I wanted so badly to go to Santa Fe for the express purpose of seeing the cathedral. I did that and found it to be every bit as Cather described it--austere yet beautiful, spiritual, and very Catholic. I loved the style of paintings inside as they are endemic of the time and place that the cathedral was built. The book is based on the lives of Fathers Lamy and Machebeuf (Latour and Vaillant) as they carve out a space for the Catholic church among the Mexican and Native populations of the area.

When you get what you want...

Sometimes we go around desiring something so bad we can hardly stand it. We know how we'd act, what life would be like, and how much we would enjoy it. And then sometimes, it happens and we don't know what to do with it.

For instance, yesterday afternoon, I found myself blissfully alone. The kids came home after school, went to a friend's house and David wasn't due back from a meeting until later that evening. I had several hours, my main work for the day was done...and I didn't know what to do. I fretted, visited the same web-sites over and over again, avoided reading my book, didn't want to watch tv, was bored with my computer game. In essense, I was alone and quiet--and I didn't like it.

Crazy.

I think one of the problems with yesterday was that I wasn't prepared to be alone. I'd completed all my work so that I could be available for the kids when they got home, but once I found out that they weren't goin to be home, I didn't have anything to occupy myself. This is something that David and I have discussed several times regarding our life after they graduate from high school. We spend an awful lot of time and energy parenting them, discussing them, hoping that things will work out ok, and once they're gone, what are we going to fill that time with?

It's something that we both want very badly...I don't want us to fret, be bored, or wonder what our lives were about. I want us to thrive, to be excited, to turn the page on the new chapter in our lives and say "wow...we've got something special here." I hope we can manage not to crumble over the next couple of years of stress, and to wake up on the other side, and be so tired and careworn that we don't bother to do what it takes to thrive. That would definitely be crazy.

Moonrise

I saw a beautiful moonrise on my way home from dinner tonight. The moon, big as the eastern sky was rising above the pine trees, light light yellow with soft blue undertones. I had to try really hard not to have a wreck it was so beautiful.

Unfortunately, my camera did poor justice to this amazing site, so I don't have pictures, just those in my mind. Keep an eye out for the moon, folks, you may get a surprise on your way home, too!

When I was a little girl...

...or more like a teenager, I decided to go on a diet. My plan was to lose 20 pounds very quickly so I dieted, exercised and gave up soft drinks. The giving up soft drinks was actually pretty easy and something I'd already done and lost a few pounds, but the dieting was very hard. There was a menu, and it was very sparse, and tasteless and really not very encouraging to a young girl who decided she needed to shed a few pounds.

The exercise, as always, was difficult, but I tried and managed to fit it into my afternoon activities. By giving up my afternoon television and running around the house, I was able to get some exercise in, and start to feel good about the fact that I thought I would starve to death before all this weight was off.

One Saturday I was running and mom was walking, and my brothers were hauling hay into the barn. I saw this cool looking stick on the ground and went to stomp it and it wiggled away, turned to face me and scared the devil out of me. I somehow managed to jump up from trying to stomp down and got back and away from the snake as it rounded on me. I froze staring at a baby copperhead and hollered at my brothers to come help, and they, having seen the whole exchange, laughed at me and didn't come help. Mom, who was rounding the carport, saw what was going on, managed to grab a hoe that was sitting on the porch and came over and chopped that baby snake to a million pieces. It was disgusting and fascinating at the same time...

And somehow I lost my verve for exercise that day (and for many thereafter)...

Book Review: Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith

After a long string of mediocre or uninspiring books, it was such a joy to read Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith. I save these books for when I'm in such a rut because I know that they will be wonderful and I'll be able to linger and enjoy them and feel good about reading again. I'll be motivated and excited about reading again. I knew I'd want to pick up my next book right away. Somehow these books reenergize me.

In this installment we have Mma Romatswe solving a blackmailing mystery, she tackles a physician who is committing fraud against his patients, she confronts voodoo, deals with the fact that her traditionally built figure is causing problems. All they while there is an underlying tension between her and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Mma Makutsi deals with feminism and her new fiance and Mr. Polopetsi practices being an assistant to the assistant detective Makutsi...and somehow those apprentices seem to be growing up.

As in his other books, Smith addresses the issues of the traditional Botswana ways and how they are being taken over by newer more modern ways that are eating away at a civilized and logical way of addressing the world. Mma Romatswe as the central figure, always helps everyone see how they have been attracted to shiny inconsequential things and need to be more focused on what is important. I love the way she is able to feel anger or frustration and then think through whether it is worth the energy--and usually it isn't. However, when necessary she confronts people gone bad and manages to help them come around--sometimes. There are those that are "uncurable"--People who are evil--and those she realizes she has to stop.

Smith did a good job of setting up the next book. I'm looking forward to finding out what this tension is between Mma Romatswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. I can't wait to see how Mma Makutsi's love of pretty shoes develops and how her relationship with Mr. Phuti goes. I'm also looking forward to seeing more of the children as well as the apprenticeships. Was the outburst from Charlie really an expression of his burgeoning maturity. I'm so glad that book #8 is published and on my shelf so I can read it immediately when I'm next in a slump.

Can someone help me please...

I need some serious help understanding the logic and mind of teenagers. I'm honestly at a loss, but think that if I could make some sense...I might be able to cope...or work within the system to help move things along safely...or something like that.

But, really, I know I'm asking for the moon to be served up on a silver platter. Still it would sure be nice going to bed at night knowing where things stand, where I stand, and what to expect of the day tomorrow.

And Betty, I understand a conversation we had years ago at a quilt bee at the lake house. You were threading a needle and I asked you what your boys were up to (after spending much time expounding on the delights of my adorable twin babies) and you said something to the effect, "I don't want to talk about it...I'll volunteer information when I can, but it's just too difficult. They aren't as cute as your little ones. One day you'll understand."

I get it. ugh!

TOO cool...

I love these sunglasses. Enough that I spent my entire Sept. allowance on them...they're prescription, though, so do aid in the driving!

Diet and Exercise...

Everyone knows that to lose weight all it takes it to watch what you eat and exercise. Why is something that is really so simply, so difficult to carry out?

Is it because I'm so stressed in my daily life? Because that's certainly true, and it certainly takes away the energy I need to focus on eating more healthy and finding time to exercise?

Is it because I'm busy? Related to question #1, busy-ness certainly is a factor in diet and exercise working...you have to have time to go to the grocery store, to develop a menu of food that is healthy and fairly easy to prepare (remember time is a problem), you have to have time to prepare all this wonderful food. When I worked hard on the Dr. Phil weight-loss plan, I had such a hard time with preparation...and since I don't really like to cook all that much...

Is it because I have some really bad habits that are extremely hard to break? I LOVE sweet food. I could eat nothing but sweets all the time, with the occasional "real" food break somewhere in there. I also love to snack while I work on the computer, and to drink coca cola.

Is it because I, at my heart, hate to exercise? I don't mind moving around and doing stuff. Walking all over Europe did not even once make me say "I hate this exercise!" But I hate going to the gym and doing the same task repeatedly. It bores me to tears and makes me feel like tearing my eyeballs out. While I don't mind walking, there really isn't a good place to walk in our neighborhood--sidewalks are scarce and those that are there are really bumpy or littered with pine cones and other debris.

Is it because somewhere along the way I've learned to love myself for who I am and my size doesn't really bother me? Sure, it's irritating to get on planes and not fit comfortably, but for the most part, I don't notice that I'm big. I have cute clothes, I don't have aches and pains, and don't feel ugly or unworthy. My self-esteem, while a good thing, seems to keep me from being overly motivated to lose weight--or to make the sacrifices I need to to lose weight.

Is it because I don't have any major health issues and haven't felt strongly compelled to lose weight in fear that I'm going to die?

Whatever the reason for my struggle, I really do want to lose weight. I want to go to Europe next year and hike around in the mountains and not feel winded after 2 minutes. I want to shop in regular sized clothing stores. The options are so much more than what I have currently...I could spend some serious money on a new wardrobe. I want to get into an airplane seat and fit comfortably--or as comfortably as one can in such a cramped space.

But all this want doesn't seem to help in my daily battle to choose healthy food that I think tastes bland and boring. It doesn't motivate me to get up in the morning to exercise. It doesn't motivate me to tackle my sweet addiction and cut them out totally again.

In case you can't tell, I had a bad week last week--over all, not just in relation to my eating and exercise. I gained a pound, which isn't really all that bad, and I'm not really all that bummed about it (expected it to be worse actually). I am bummed that I can't seem to do what seems to be so simple and just get myself on track to lose weight and be much thinner next summer so when I go to Europe I'm in shape, healthy and can handle all the hiking to all the wonderful mountain views I have the option of...must get on track!

Under the Tuscan Sun

I've been diligently reading Under the Tuscan Sun when I get a chance, but it has honestly bored me. It's not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination. Reading about Mayes's responses to Italy and the difficulty of living in another culture is very interesting...just not for very many pages in a row.

So while I don't abandon it, it isn't my main book to read right now. Finally I'm going to get to read Blue Shoes and Happiness...and it did indeed make me very happy last night as I laughed out loud and had to read sentences to David. I love this series by Smith.

It's progress...

I lost 2 pounds this week. Tomorrow will be back to the gym and hopefully I'll see another 2 pounds next week!

It is a sign of the times?

Or my age? Or simply a bad diagnosis many years ago when the opt. said I no longer needed glasses?

No matter the reason, I am rejoining the ranks of the glasses wearers. I'm amazed at how crisp and bright colors are. I'm hoping to be able to see better at night (though I haven't tested that yet).

Little Things

I got up and walked this morning. While it may not seem like that big of a deal, it IS a big deal because I've been wanting to and unable to for weeks now. Hopefully I'll be able to keep it up!

Book Review: Freddy and Fredericka by Mark Helprin

I really wanted to like this book. I really really did. However, I didn't like it all that much. David laughed his way through it...I barely made it I was so bored a lot of the time. Overall the story was good, the characters were very likeable and you wanted to see them succeed, but I just couldn't get into the jokes and silliness that seemed to happen every other page. It just didn't appeal to me.

The basic premis of the book is that the Prince and Princess of Wales are buffoons who keep messing things up with the press. They say and do the dumbest things and have to be taken care of by "Mr. Neil" who puts before them a quest of conquering America. They arrive in New Jersey by parachute wearing only fur underwear and have to figure out how to survive. Their adventures in America demonstrate how someone with nothing can make something of themselves--even to the extent of being elected President. They learn a lot about themselves, the power of love, the power of doing for and taking care of yourself. And they learn to appreciate the people that they serve as political leaders of their own country.

If I were to give advice to Mark Helprin, I would tell him to cut the book by about 1/2. It was overwritten in a lot of places and several of the chapters, especially those that dealt solely with the policital realm, were boring and unnecessary. Since I liked the story, the characters and the overall message, I kept reading and am glad that I did, but I would have liked it to be a tad, well, a tad "less" (if that makes sense).

A Few of My Recently Completed Projects

Strawberries Forever shows an Amish strawberry farm. Some younger people are picking the strawberries while some middle aged Amish are selling pies, jams and quilts. It was completed in 2003 but only framed a week ago.

The weaving sampler below was completed while in Chicago and shortly thereafter. I bought a lap handweaving loom to get some practice with weaving and to see if my classes in October will be a complete waste of time. I believe I wove my warp too tight and caught myself getting the weft (side to side) too tight about 1/3 of the way up. But I had fun playing with patterns, made a few up on my own, learned to read a pattern, and did it all by hand. Looking forward to a more complex machine.





Woman with flowers is a needlepoint designed by Chris Roberts-Antieau. I loved working on her because of all the fun colors and the complexity of the design. I finished her two nights ago and she is off to the framers today.
A is for Angel is a Christmas gift for Alyssa. The stitches and design motifs all begin with the letter A.


E is for Empress is a Christmas gift for Elizabeth. All the stitches and design motifs begin with the letter E.

What are the three books you'd like to sit down and read right now if you had the time?

Please get your friends and family members (who like to read) to participate in this blog entry. You can send it to anyone by clicking the little envelope icon at the lower right of this entry (right after it says "Posted by Leslie at..."

I am taking a poll about the books you want to read the most. Please add a comment and name the three titles and authors of the books you'd like to read right now if you have the time...the kicker? To limit yourself to only 3.

Mine?
Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith
Wicked by Gregory Maguire (reread)
Patriot Hearts by Barbara Hembley

The Rewards of Virtue

Well, I'm not sure I'm a virtuous woman--since I admitted that patience wasn't my thing, but I finally did get a car...and it's pretty and comfy and wonderful and I love it!

It's a bran' new 2007 Nissan Murano, Merlot, with tan leather interior, sun roof, Boze stereo system, dual AC, programmable seats and mirrors for 2 drivers...in short, it's AWESOME!

Hint...

I'm no longer waiting! Pictures tomorrow or Monday :)

Patience is not my virtue!

I remember in junior high wanting to be such a good Christian, and our Sunday School teacher told us that if we wanted to do something to improve ourselves, we needed to ask God to test us. I knew that I wasn't very patient, and thought that I should definitely serve penance and get tested and trained to be patient. So, I prayed very fervently that God teach me patience. I have to say, I'm still being tested, almost daily, and I'm not improving. I think God should finally realize I'm a lost cause, and things that one prays about as a teenager shouldn't still be haunting them when they're almost 40.

It's funny because most people I know think I'm incredibly patient. I don't think that's the case. I think I'm incredibly controlled and don't let my emotions get the best of me...but I'm not patient. They look at all my needlework and say, "the patience to do something like this!" It's not patience that allows me to sew. I'm completely in control of my sewing, so it's not a patience thing. I don't have to wait on anyone to do anything, and I find it very peaceful most of the time.

What I don't find peaceful, is waiting on people to do stuff. Waiting is very hard, and I don't do it well, and I've been SO good this week and last waiting for things to work themselves out for us buying a new car and now that things have worked out and we have to wait on the car to get delivered, cleaned, and then finding time in David's busy schedule this week to actually go sign the papers and GET the car! It's KILLING me!

No, I'm NOT a patient person!

When I was a little girl...

When I was a little girl, I told my brothers and my daddy that when "mama's out of town, I'm the mama, so you have to mind me."

All it resulted in was them laughing at me and my daddy telling the story over and over and over again throughout the rest of my childhood, but I guess I felt strong and powerful at the moment.

When I was a little girl...

My brothers and I got in trouble with my mom and she sent us outside "until I call you back in." Bryan and I were really bummed about this because we had a really good game going involving some weird combination of spyrograph and this marble guiding game. I honestly don't know what we did to get in trouble, but I do know that we were sent outside without any of our toys or games and I was mad. As was Bryan.

Trying to be grown up, I said, "Well, dammit...what are going to do now?"

Bryan jumped up, ran to the back door which Mom hadn't had the time yet to lock and yelled, "Mom, Leslie's cussing."

She came to that door fuming mad. I saw her jerk Bryan in, he was crying "I didn't do anything wrong, it was Leslie who was cussing." But somehow it didn't matter because I wasn't cussing where she could hear me, but Bryan was tattling where she could hear him. I assume he got sent to his room and was ordered to stay there or else, but I don't really know because I went in search of the kittens and managed to entertain myself without getting in Mom's hair--or at least I assume I did because I don't really remember anything else.

One very happy girl!

Who got her driver's license today! Yea Alyssa!

It's progress...

Even if it's a little bit, it's progress, I guess. I lost another pound this week...felt like I should have lost 3, but I guess I won't complain. Now that's 2 of the 10 pounds I've gained since getting back from Europe. I'm sure when I get to the gym next week they'll come off faster, but what's going to happen in Chicago! Hopefully I'll manage to make some mostly good choices.

Until I return...

Book Review: Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

I just finished Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. This is not going to much a review of the book--not because it doesn't deserve a good review, but because I don't think I'm the person to do it. I liked certain aspects of the book--Milkman is an interesting character, the pain and confusion of growing up and dealing with life no matter your race if clear, the frustration of the characters not to be able to be treated as equals was difficult to read (especially as a white person). However, I was so confused much of the time about where and when we were in the story that I often felt frustrated.

In fact, reading the book was really a frustrating experience for me. I was tired of having to deal with the crazy characters every time I sat down to read. They haunted me (which is probably a sign of a successful book) but I didn't want them to. In fact, I felt that I honestly didn't want the challenge of reading this book and didn't want the challenge of what the book was trying to make me think about. And I felt that if I did manage to deal with the issues presented in the book that there wasn't much I could do about it since everything seemed so squirrelly and crazy.

I hate that I can't give the book a better review than this. I know Morrison deserves better of her readers, and I honestly feel like I failed her this time.

Surprised

We're back from our trip to Nashville, which was really nice except for the fact that our truck is acting like she just wants to lay down and die. We have her in the shop today. Hopefully nothing major is wrong. Nothing is showing up with the lights, she's just not performing well. Everyone we meet says "bad gas" but we just don't know.

We tried to eat well and track what we were eating while we were gone, but didn't go so great. When I go out to eat, the "grilled chicken with steamed vegies" just doesn't interest me. I know I need to change my mind-set on that, but it's really hard. Even though I didn't always make the best choices, I still managed to lose 1.4 pounds, which was surprising and encouraging. Of course, David, who ate worse than I did, lost 4, but he's a man, and I've heard that they lose faster...I hope that there's some retribution in there that they also gain faster...not that I want him to gain anything, it's just hard living with a superman!

Nashville...

I'm about to leave for Nashville for a few days. Should be a nice relaxing trip. I definitely need one of those. Things around here have been rather nutty of late--which leaves me feeling rather nutty.

I decided, smartly or not we can debate that, to start Weight Watchers last week. I question my intelligence because I'm going on a trip this week, and next, and didn't have my house stocked up for healthy eating. But the past two days have really shed good light on why I'm overweight. Trying to eat within my points with my old food and habits was impossible. It's been enlightening to say the least. So, we'll see how I do on the road. I've made plans for snacks and breakfast, it'll just be challenging to make good choices on the road. Wish me luck!

I'll report on how I did when I get back and how my experiences in Nashville were.

Mobile

David and I went to Mobile for the 4th of July. We'd been told the fireworks were pretty good...but they were cancelled due to rain, so we didn't get to see them. Maybe next year. We did take a walk around downtown while waiting on our lunch appointment with our friend who lives there and came upon this little fair in a park right outside our hotel. The girl pictured in this picture was so unbelievably unhappy about having to dance. All the other kids and the teacher too, completely ignored her, though, and enjoyed themselves immensely.

The Joy of Conquering Your Fears...

...Means that you can finally lay down in the curly red wig that showed up while you were at the "Kitty Spa" while all the other ladies were at the Quilt Bee...

A New TV...

While we weren't sure that we could get the TV out from under Ms. Lochi, we did manage. We also finally managed to find a suitable TV armoir at the limited furniture stores we have in town. Now, everything is tucked away and tidy...and very fun to watch! The cable guys come out today...

Book Review: Homestead by Rosina Lippi

I'm having a hard time starting this review of Homestead by Rosina Lippi. It's definitely a good, well-written book. Its characters are extremely vivid and real to life. This summer I spent a couple of days in a small Austrian village near the area where Homestead is set and can imagine the women and men and the hardships they endure. I can imagine the geographica setting all the more because I've been there, but even if I hadn't the isolated mountain village is clearly wrought. Lippi even deals with very difficult topics--like war and how it affects small towns.

However, there was just something about this book that I wasn't crazy about and the more I think about it the more I'm convinced it isn't just me not being in a good mood. The book, overall, is depressing. While I've read depressing books before (Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith comes to mind first), at least the characters who were depressed in that book, or had sad lives, tried to overcome their problems. Lippi's characters, for the most part, feel as if they're simply stuck and have no control over their lives. They live their depressing lives because they have no choice. It's simply sad.

That said, I left each chapter wanting more from these characters. I wanted more than just the quick little snapshot of their lives, probably because I wanted to believe they'd overcome. But also because the characters were so vivid and real that I wanted to believe that they had more to their lives than just the few pages dedicated to them. While a few of them may have come back in later chapters (Johanna is one example, and she is an enjoyable one. In fact, one of the few characters embracing life), most were simply mentioned in an aside so that we had to piece together the story of the village. And while I don't mind having to work for the books I read, I did mind the ambiguity that I felt at the end of each chapter.

So, for the first time, I'm saying that I'm not crazy about a book that Lippi/Donati wrote. While I didn't hate it, I certainly didn't love it the way I have everything else.

The Loire Valley

We left Paris in the afternoon by train and arrived Amboise around dinner time. We took a cab to our B&B (no car rental places in France being open on Sunday), checked in, rested a bit, and then walked into the city center for a lovely dinner. Back to the B&B for an early bedtime and late morning sleep-in--we were in much need of rest after our tour. This is a picture of our B&B. It was extremely nice even if the prorieters were a bit curmudgeony.

The next day we decided to take it easy, so David rode the train into Tours to pick up our car, drove back and we girls were just getting out of bed. We all ate breakfast, showered and got dressed for our day of chateau hopping. Our first stop was La Clos Luce whch is where Leonardo da Vinci lived in the last years of his life. I was so disappointed in this place. While the basement had interested replicas of da Vinci's "inventions," the rest of the house did little to demonstrate his imagination and interesting life. We all left wishing we hadn't wasted our time there.

From there we drove to Pontlvoy which is where the university has a semester long program. We walked through the grounds, went into the old church and were saddened by the lack of care for the place. It has been rumored that the person who owns the property has declared bankruptcy, so I will be interested to see what happens once all the bank-rolls have been settled. I was especially disappointed to see that the frescoes on the walls of the church had been painted over as part of the "restoration" of the building.

We drove to Montrichard which is a town where David and I and his students had many a lunch but couldn't find our way to our favorite pizzaria so headed to Chaumont instead. This is a fairy tale type castle with turrets, a courtyard, and when I toured it 4 years ago some of the most interesting furniture. The entire chateau is under repair, so we only got to view two rooms...at least it was free.

From here we drove into Blois, which is another town where we spent a lot of time 4 years ago. In the center city's town square there is a magic shop. At the top of the hour, the windows on the top two floors of the shop open up, gold dragons pop their heads out and make this most atrocious noise for about 5 minutes. Fortunately we got to see that again, because the rain that had been threatening all day finally came down in a gulley washer which left us running for cover in the nearest restaurant. We were starving anyway, so it was not a bad stop, but it was very disappointing to miss this chateau's tour. We were all completely soaked and just didn't have the heart for another tour in the pouring rain.

So, we headed back to our town, went grocery shopping, and had dinner in our room. It was so nice to be able to eat what we were hungry for rather than having to pick off of a menu foods that we werent' sure what they were.

The next day was our last day in France, so we made the most of it by seeing Chambord, Cheverny and Chenenceau. Three of the most famous chateaux and all lovely in their own right. After making the most of these tours, we headed back to our B&B for some dinner, rest and packing up for our return home.

I really enjoy the French country side. I find the people to be so charming and friendly, the air clean, the food wonderful and fresh. I love going to the chateaux and seeing the grandeur that the kings felt was appropriate for their position. Of all the chateaux that I've seen, Cheverny is the best preserved because the nobles who had this place were in good standing with their peasants, so when the revolt came, they didn't loot the place, burn it down and lop off the heads of the nobles. In fact, the person who lives there now (and it is inhabited in the top 2 floors), is a direct decendent of the first marquis who built the place.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. It was definitely one of those whirlwind tours where we saw way more than we thought possible. I enjoyed being on the tour because I didn't have to plan my itinerary most days, I didn't have to figure out where I was going to stay and I didn't have to get myself from place to place. I think the tour gave me a new respect for my abilities to walk a lot and be more physically active while traveling. I will definitely do another tour, just not a family tour. I also thoroughly enjoyed our few days without the tour. It was nice being a family again and not having the interference of 20 other people. I would, however, arrive earlier--at least two days before the tour starts--to give myself time to get over jet-lag. Everyone else did this and it was definitely a smart thing to do!