A Sugar Confession

I had dessert last night. It was so far below what I thought it would be that I have NO desire to have dessert again for a while. The best part was the berries, and to be honest I could have done without the cake and custard.

Goes to show you that tastes DO change even if the mind-set doesn't.

To All Thornton Thimblers!

In the book I'm reading, The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini, there was a quilt bee in which the main character assisted in quilting 13 quilt tops...in ONE DAY!

We have clearly been slacking...I'm shocked that in roughly 3 months from today we'll only have managed to finish ONE top in THREE days...

But, hey, they didn't have all the wonderful shopping and eating opportunities that we have today...not to mention all the games and stories and catching up!

Can't wait!

Reading

I love to read. I think reading is one of life's best pleasures. No matter how wonderful your life, escaping into a well-written book is something that can't be surpassed by very many other things--sex, travel, and a good bottle of wine are really the only three I can think of.

I think my love of reading is one of the reasons that, when I have a book that isn't gripping me in all the right ways, I begin to avoid reading. Why would I read "that book" when I have so many other fun things to do? Why would I read "that book" when I know how much fun reading should be and it's just not getting me there? That's where I am right now...and funny enough I want to finish the book--most of the time I get to feeling this way I simply put the book aside.

So, what that means is that the book has some good qualities that I like, but is missing something huge for me. And since I know what it's missing, I'm hyper sensitive when those points come up.

Tell me, any readers out there. Have you read The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini (4th in her series)? Did something about it irk you? I'm wondering if it's just me seeing that she now has 5 more books published in this series in just 5 short years...If I can manage to push through, I'll have a review by early next week...and then I'll be less cryptic about why it annoys me.

You think you know yourself...

If you remember a couple of weeks ago, I was talking about going shopping and finding a new bra since my old ones weren't looking all that great anymore, and when I did I was going to try on the size that the measurements said I should be?

You know what? They were right. Somehow all these years I thought I was a C cup and now I'm a DD. It's almost like I had a boob job and only had to pay a couple hundred dollars for some new bras. I've tried on different styles, different brands, etc., and almost to a tee I'm a DD. It's almost like I have new toys that I have to dress up!

Vignette #2

Overheard while E was on the cell phone with her best friend while also e-mailing with her on her new laptop:

E: You have to get instant messaging...yeah, that way we can text and IM...it's, like, TWO things, you know.

Spring Fever

This time of year is so hard for me. All I want to do is go play outside in the sunshine, be silly, and sleep. Putting on my sandals for the first time of the season is almost a moment of celebration. Springtime means that you have to wait until October at least to eat chili gain. And thought I'll miss it, that's ok. I love to watch the birds building their nests, our cats get a little nutty. My children even went on a picnic last weekend (I think this may have been the first in their lives initiated by themselves). Springtime in Mississippi is particularly lovely. So many things flower here and everything seems to be in bloom this week.

It's a lovely day!

Book Review: Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker

Possessing the Secret of Joy is a difficult book to read, but worth it if you want to be more informed about the horrors that afflict women in many parts of the world, including our own country. The central character, Tashi/Evelyn (she has an American and an African name) underwent female circumcision as an adult because she wanted to belong to her African tribe and be elligible to marry. The horrors resulting from that decision affect the rest of her life--both physically by making it almost impossible to birth her only child and emotionally as is marked by her bouts of insanity.

The story is told through several people's perspective including Tashi's husband, her best friend, her son, her husband's lover (Lisette) and their son. The contrast between Tashi, who's sexuality is erased through her culture's insistence on female mutilation, and Lisette, who's sexuality is celebrated and barely containable, is marked. The fact that Tashi's mutilation affects everyone in her life is significant and powerful. While trying to overcome something she doesn't understand, she is able to affect those around her through her suffering and attempts to make something of her life.

Walker was amazing to take on such a difficult topic...I don't know how she managed to write the pain Tashi must have felt without becoming seriously depressed herself. It was a difficult book to read, I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to write. My only complaint about the book is that at times, the narrative voice slips into a historical/preachy voice that doesn't sound like any of the narrators and made me want to skip forward even though the content of that section was important.

I don't recommend this book to someone who wants a light-hearted read, but if you would like to learn something about female circumcision and why certain cultures continue to practice this horrible crime against women even today, then I do recommend that you pick this book up.

I went out for a simple walk...

Yesterday I decided to go for my walk while the maids were here cleaning the house. I always hate being in their way, so a walk, which I need to do anyway, was the perfect answer. They usually take about an hour, so I decided to be back in 45 minutes. While I had driven by and through the park a few blocks from my house, I had never walked on the fitness trail, so I decided to go there and try that out. Frustratingly enough there was not one sidewalk between my house and the park and then the trail was a huge disappointment. I still needed to kill 20 minutes, so I decided to walk down to the street that is 1/2 mile from my house, walk the 3 blocks to my street and then walk down my street. The sidewalks weren't all that plentiful on this path either, which was rather frustrating, but I managed getting into a ditch or a driveway when a vehicle would pass.

I turned down 21st Avenue, the street where the house I'll buy one day is on, and only one block from my house...actually since I left the back door open when I left it was only a matter of going through the alley near my house to get to my back door...not really a whole block. But, as I went past the Press's house, I noticed there wasn't a car in my driveway which meant that the maids were already finished...and likely had locked the house on their way out. I had a half a second of panic, but tried to remain calm, went to the door, and indeed it was locked. I didn't take my key, not expecting to be gone long enough to matter.

I didn't have any idea what time it was or any way to call David who had a meeting at 11 to see if it was worth walking up to his office. But after 15 minutes of trying to entertain myself by going through the mail (nothing but bills) and listening to music on my iPod, I decided it was worth trying to catch David...if nothing else, I would at least be DOING something. Besides, I had to pee and there was nothing but restaurants between here and campus and I was fairly certain that a sweaty person in exercise clothing wouldn't be welcome to use their bathroom without at least purchasing a coke. And since I had no money...So, up to campus I went, and I managed to catch David who was finishing up his work for the morning and was about to leave early to come home and surprise me since his meeting was cancelled.

We walked home, he let me in the house, and I learned a very important lesson...never leave home without your key or your cell phone!

Book Review: In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith

In this sixth installment of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, Smith delivers another uplifting book. I may have enjoyed this one the best of the series so far. Things happen in this book, but for the most part, it was about character development. And learning more about these wonderful characters is a good thing.

Mma Romatswe finds herself in a pickle when her first husband (Note Mokoti) returns demanding money and inciting fear as he has always done; Mma Mokutsi takes dancing lessons and meets a man, who, though not perfect, is close enough; Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni finally finds his match in passion for machines in Mr. Polopetsi; Charlie the mechanic gets a dose in reality when he quits his apprenticeship to date an older, rich lady who drives a Mercedes Benz. While all of this is going on, Mma Romatswe and Mma Mokutsi are trying to find a Zambian man who ran away with lots of money, but that little mystery is really understated in this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed Cheerful Ladies. To see Mma Romatswe fall and recover herself was a perfect move at this point in the series. She has seemed bigger than life throughout, and to see her humanity was, for me, very refreshing. I love watching Mma Makutsi grow into herself and be proud of who she is. She is simply delightful.

One thing that Smith does in all of his books that he continues to do well in this one is provide a life of integrity and morality for his characters without being preachy or nostalgic. While the characters yearn for a time past when everyone treated each other with respect and tradition, they do so in the expectation that people should still be acting that way, not in sadness that they no longer do. I love these books and am very much looking forward to #7.

Guest Blogger: David Butler! Movie Review: All Quiet on the Western Front

My wife and I have decided to watch all of the Academy Award (Oscar) winning movies in chronological order. We joined Netflix and added each one to our queue. The movies started to arrive several weeks ago and we are attempting to watch one per week. We have made it through 5 movies to date.

The first movie to be reviewed is All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). All Quiet on the Western Front is a film adaptation from a novel chronicling World War I from a German soldier’s perspective. The movie begins with students in either a senior-high or early college classroom. The students are all fresh faced, nicely dressed and day dreaming while the instructor rambles. Behind the instruction out two open windows on each side, you see mobilization for war. Eventually the instructor's voice becomes louder and more virtuous proclaiming the honorable role of defending the Fatherland ( Germany ) and each young man's duty. The instructor eventually whips all the students into a frenzy where they go off and enlist in the army.

The rest of the movie chronicles this classroom of boys from boot camp to the front lines. I will not give away the whole movie or ending, but one of the most poignant scenes is when one of the former students now solider comes back after months (or is it years?) from the front lines. He drops by the same classroom with the same instructor giving the same patriotic speech to a new group of young faces.

The cinematography is superb with each scene shot for maximum impact on the viewer. The acting is perfect, you feel sympathetic for the soldiers and what they are experiencing both physically and psychologically. During one scene, the French forces charge into and over the German trenches. These soldiers shoot and fight hand-to-hand against these foes. One has to step back and remember that these "enemies" are actually the "good guy" the Allies in World War I. The movie is that compelling. For 1930 the sets are huge and expansive, especially the trench warfare pieces and associated explosions.

I strongly recommend this movie to anyone. It is not simply a war movie, but instead is a fundamental insight into how warfare transforms a person in a short time.

It's Allergy Time

I have experienced what I believe is the worst allergy attack I've ever had. I thought I had a terrible cold until David pointed out that everyone else is feeling bad and maybe it's allergies and gave me one of his zyrtec. I felt better within an hour. I actually slept last night which was a huge bonus.

I don't think we pay enough attention to allergies--most of the time they're not terrible or life threatening. But as I said as I was going to sleep last night, you can die of allergies...

San Diego Pictures, Finally

We had a very nice time in San Diego. We got there Monday evening, went to the hotel and had drinks and nachos, then went to our room and practically passed out since we'd been up and moving around since 6:30, Central, that morning. This was the view that greeted us in the morning.

My friend Tony picked us up on Tuesday morning and took us into the city where we went to see the Embarcardo--basically the shipyard. This statue had just been dedicated. There were WWII vets everywhere and film crews. It was very exciting.

We then had to take David back to the hotel so he could go do his conference workshop, and Tony and I went back to San Diego to Balboa Park where we walked around and saw all kinds of wonderful views. The gardenia garden and the fountain were my favorites.

After Tony dropped me off, David and I had dinner and then saw this beautiful sunset from our room. It was an early day the next morning getting back home.

Big Circles Batik Quilt

I collected batik fabrics for this quilt for years before coming up with the design (derived from a photograph in a quilt magazine advertisement) and then piecing it. I almost lost it to Hurricane Katrina, and thought I had for a few days, because it was at the quilt shop in Pass Christian. However, the quilter escaped with just the quilts she had commissioned to quilt before the shop was destroyed by the hurricane. Lucky us! Anyway, I have finally found a quilter who I trusted to work on it and she did a fabulous job quilting it as she would a double wedding ring. It's just about as perfect as it can be (in my humble opinion anyway!)

From Home Alone to Home Congested

Well, my home alone dreams didn't happen. While David was indeed gone, the girls were not able to spend any time this weekend with their friend Ali like they had planned. First her grandmother was sick and then Ali got sick. Ali did try to not be sick, but after she threw up several times at the mall Sunday afternoon, A&E insisted on coming home.

Unfortunately I woke up Saturday morning with a bad cold, so while I didn't sit at home and moan like I wanted to, it did take a little bit of the fun out of shopping, and the playfulness I expected to have once home was really diminished. I did get my awesome quilt (pictures tomorrow) and hemmed it. I did get several shirts and bras for the trip. Oh and two new pair of shoes...in fact, I got the most comfortable pair of sandals I've ever worn. They are the Yucatan style by Ecco and are worth every penny.

The weekend wasn't a total wash, but I still feel a little puny and have to head up to Jackson for a meeting, and I don't feel nearly as invigorated by the home alone time as I thought I would.

D#$% cold!

Home Alone

David left for Tucson this morning and spring break starts for the girls this afternoon. I suspect that I'll spend a good bit of the next three days home alone, and I'm trying to decide what to do with myself...

I started a new book that I'm really enjoying (6th in the Ladies Detective Agency books). I could have it finished this afternoon if I sat down to read it.

I could go to the mall and shop for bras. I love losing weight, but when all my bras begin to look like there's less of me in them, I can only hide that for so long. Of course, doing my measurements the way JCPenney says to do them, I'm supposed to be a 42DD, which made David laugh in a rather insulting way when I informed him of that. So, bra shopping could definitely be up there.

I could just go shopping for clothes. Need new summer stuff, as I was apparently expecting to lose weight before this summer because I got rid of every pair of shorts I ever had. Of course, the stores aren't carrying anything new and exciting just yet. When I asked when the spring stuff would be coming in, the woman behind the counter said, "we're already getting it." I replied "really?"

I could get a ton of sewing done. I am almost finished maching quilting a lap quilt and I could attach the binding and snuggle under it tonight while I'm reading. Plus I have my needlepoint and cross stitch projects that are mid-way.

Of course, there's always nintendo. I could finish our new game before David gets home and make him incredulous and jealous. Or I could play the other game that's really boring for other people to watch, but which I really enjoy--It's a farming game, and I believe when I left off I was actually pregnant!

The little nag in the back of my head is reminding me that there's always work...I don't want to get into the bind I was in last week...

First, though, I'm going to get breakfast, and then I'll consider what I want to do this weekend. I am definitely going to pick up my latest quilt from the quilter. I CANNOT wait!

Book Review: Pope Joan by Donna Cross

• I was intrigued by Pope Joan, especially when I read that the book was based on a legend that is believed to be true: the Catholic church has purged all evidence of Pope Joan from its because of the embarrassing problem of having a female rise to the ranks of pope.
  
  Cross does a very good job of showing church history during a time that Europe was plagued by disease, famines, barbarian raids and many other violent things that made living difficult, education almost impossible, and women’s right a laughable circumstance. She tells the story of Joan who is the third child and only daughter of a Catholic missionary priest who married her mother even though she was a heathen, supposedly because of her beauty. Early on, Joan is torn between the literate world of the church that, though completely oppressive to her as a woman, opens doors to her intellect, and the “heathen” world of her mother where the gods are kind and instructive not vengeful. She eventually chooses to become educated and runs away from home when the opportunity presents itself for her to gain education at a monastery.
  
  The remainder of the book deals with Joan’s love of a man, her fascination with learning and reason, her pull to things masculine because they represented power, and the danger of being discovered for what she truly is. When her village is sacked by Vikings, Joan takes advantage of the situation and takes on the identity of her brother who was killed in the attack, becomes a monk and excels in the Catholic church to the point of being elected pope.
  
  I liked the book. It made me think about a lot of things—especially the world we have today where we take for granted education and women’s rights. I did find that the point when Joan “switches” gender to falter a little because Cross seems obligated to “prove” Joan’s existence and the fact that she could have been caught any number of times but somehow wasn’t. Overall, the book is successful and a highly recommended read.
  
  Some of the more compelling ideas explored in Pope Joan are
  
• the lack of rights for women—down to the basic lack of privacy or choice in spouse
  
• the use of superstition couched in religion as a means of “proving” innocence or guilt in all things from witchcraft to murder
  
• the class system which made it impossible for people to rise beyond the station they were born to
  
• education as a privilege—one which someone would give their life for.

Hasta Jueves!

I'm headed to San Diego EARLY in the morning and won't be back until Wednesday afternoon!

See you all on Thursday!

A Report on Date Night

I did indeed make it until 10pm, but just barely. We had a fabulous dinner of bbq pork chops (they were really really good), broccoli, salad, and some foccacia bread. Then we sat on the porch and finished our wine and talked, then played some nintendo, put together the outer edge of a puzzle, then played some more nintendo and then went to bed at 10:01. I remember looking at the clock at 10:12 and laughing that I'd made it past 10!

Now, back to editing this report so I can be done done done tonight!

Date Night!

I'm so excited about date night tonight. Not that we're doing anything other than spending time together, playing games and having a few glasses of wine, but it IS something other than work, and this week, that's very special.

I mention date night to some of my friends and they seem really surprised that David and I would still have a special night that is totally dedicated to just us. "Aren't you bored spending time with him yet?" they ask...bored? If I were bored, why wouldn't I do something about it and if that didn't work, why would I still be married?

I have to admit that we went a little crazy earlier this year and went out to dinner every Friday night. While I love doing that, switching to working from home and the accompanying expenses (not to mention being marrooned in Santa Fe) have made that a little more difficult financially than it was last year...so we're only going out twice a month now, and after getting insurance premiums I'm beginning to think that maybe we'll have to cut those out too!

At any rate, Friday nights are nights that David and I reserve for each other. The kids have to find something to do and somehow to get there and we simply do whatever we like and talk and have fun.

The problem with date night tonight is that I'm really tired and hope I can manageto stay awake to make it through a game or two. I've worked until 9pm every night except last night since Sunday and it's starting to wear on me. When I went to bed last night I realized that I couldn't remember when I'd last had a shower. I think it was Wed., but I couldn't remember if something came up and I didn't make it. So, hopefully I make good progress on the final things I need to finish up for this report and can enjoy myself and stay awake at least until 10!

March

The old saying goes that March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb. That certainly holds true for today as we've had stormy weather all day.

March has always meant to me St. Patrick's day which is always fun because you have to wear green and drink beer. I actually hated St. Patrick's day as a child because next to yellow and orange, green was my absolutely least favorite color.

But the weather never meant much to me. Actually March usually heralded the coming of spring. The weather would get warmer and sunnier, the grass would start coming in, the leaves budding. It was actually one of my favorite months until I moved to Kentucky when I decided that March was a cruel joke. It was the dead-end of winter and everything was dead and seemed like it would never ever come to life. It was still so cold and rainy and miserable...and the snow storms usually dumped a ton of snow. I was always so happy to see the end of March during those five years we were there.

In Mississippi, the trees start to bud, the azaleas bloom, the weather gets beautiful and sunny and not so humid. I love March here and am looking forward to the cold weather being behind us.