It's Been More than Two Months

Well, I am still reading Charlaine Harris. I have finished Dead as a Doornail and am currently working on Definitely Dead. I like these books. They are my nightly escape and relaxation time. I run a hot bath and relax and read. It's my time to myself.
Since my last post, I have been working on lots of things. We finished the landscaping in the front yard. I massively cleaned and reduced several things from the basement. We had a yard sale and then I gave lots of leftovers away to neighbors and family.
We took our first family trip to Frankenmuth. We stayed at the Splash Village and all had a ball! It was wonderful weather and I got a little Christmas shopping done. We really liked driving around looking at the Bronner's Christmas lights before Halloween. It was magical!
We also attended Green Field Village's Halloween celebration for the first time this year! We had so much fun that we are sure to go back again next year. It really helped me to feel like a kid again.
I also started Yoga. It was something that I have really wanted to do since college. It just never worked into my schedule so it didn't happen. Now I find myself looking forward to each class and even looking for other classes to take to fill in the slot between classes.
The only other thing I have been reading lately is parenting magazines and cookbooks. I promise I won't let this much time go between next posts.

Dead to the World and The Omnivore's Dilemma

It's been weeks since my last post. Since then I have finished the third and started the fourth book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I also bought myself a book yesterday called The Omnivore's Dilemma. This caught my eye while the kids were looking at Dinosaurs books and puppets at Borders. So... I am only a few pages in but the book investigates where food comes from, things that happen to it from start to finish and asks do you know what you are really eating? Chris and I watched a documentary that researched part of this question and I find it very interesting and important information to know.

Wrym Kings and Club Dead

Here's what Maura's reading. It is the third book in a Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles trilogy. She really enjoys it and says she will start reading Harry Potter next.

I am reading Club Dead. I haven't spent a whole lot of time reading lately but want to finish this book by Monday August 16th. It is already due at the library but it is on hold so I couldn't check it out again and really want to finish it!

Club Dead

Charlaine Harris has my interest this time. I am reading the third book in her Sookie Stackhouse series. I really like these books and cannot wait to see what lies ahead.

Sizzling Sixteen

This is what I am reading concurrently with Pygmy. Janet Evanovich is always an easy and fun read. It gives me something light but entertaining that I don't have to concentrate on. So far so good!

The Nixies Song

This is what Maura is reading right now. I am so proud of her. She is such a big girl for a five year old. She reminds me of me and you know everyone likes when that happens with their kids. She reads so well for a five year old. She is at a third grade reading level already.

Pygmy

This is what I am reading now. It is the third in a reading addiction for me. Sometimes I am stuck on an author for a few books, like I can't get enough of them. Haunted was great and so was Rant so why shouldn't Pygmy be awesome too! There was a slight language barrier but I am getting over it and getting into the book a little more now. I had a few minutes to read outside today while Maura read her book and Nolan played in the yard.

Next on the list is Club Dead. This is the third in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. I enjoyed the first two and really like the True Blood show on TV. And I also put Sizzling Sixteen on hold at the library. I love Stephanie Plum books. My fave character is Grandma Mazur and I can't wait to see the movie that is coming out. Although, my first choice to play Stephanie Plum would have been Rachael Ray followed by a close second would have been Sandra Bullock. Anyway... until next time.

Haunted

Well, I am kinda on a Chuck Palahniuk kick again. I just finished Rant (which I loved) and Haunted is really doing it for me too! I ran through an earlier Chuck P. reading kick where I read Diary, Choke, Fight Club and Stranger than Fiction. This time it's Rant, Haunted and Lullaby will be next. If you haven't read anything by Chuck P. I highly recommend you do.

Rant

I would recommend this book. I am on to reading another one by Chuck P. this week, starting tonight.

Skippyjon Jones

Maura loves this series. It comes with a CD and we have rented several from our local library. It is a cute story about a cat that dreams of being a dog. And there is some Spanish splashed in there for fun and learning.

Rant and Rave

I honestly can't say enough good things about this book. I am hooked and not just because I am already a Palahniuk fan. If you like Fight Club, check this out. I am entertained which is a goal of mine while reading.

I've been reading "Been Down so Long, it Looks like Up to Me" that I feel older.

I actually had a birthday over the reading of this book. Talk about going on forever! I was disappointed that I chose to read this over a classic or true crime. I was actually relieved when I finished this one. It was a character story and not a plot based one. There was stuff going on but it wasn't real chronological or nail biting. I like action, I like to be shocked or entertained at least. This definitely didn't do it for me. I wouldn't recommend this book but I did find the bio info on the author; Richard Farina pretty interesting.

Rant

I started reading this at Nolan's bathtime this morning and I am only three chapters in but I am intrigued. After the last book I read, anything seems like action. I like the raw language and saying what you think but never would say but the characters in this book do. I will keep you posted on this one.

Good Night Gorilla

This is an awesome book. Both of my kids like it a lot and we have been reading it since Maura was a toddler. I really love it too! This week we rented the video from the library. There is Good Night Gorilla and some other cute night-time stories. If you are looking for a good book for your little one or even as a gift, this would be a winner.

The Philharmonic Gets Dressed

If you are looking for a good and fun book, here's one. Maura absolutely loves this book and I have to admit that it is entertaining. I don't even know where we got this, most likely I picked it up at a garage sale. It was in my kid's book collection before I had Maura. She started asking to read it when she was about two. And it has been a keeper over the years. Actually, I have had to tape it back together a couple times. It is a goodie.

PIL

Never in my life would I have guessed that I would get another chance to see Johnny "Rotten" Lydon in concert. Back in the late 90's, Chris bought me Sex Pistols tickets for my birthday or some such occasion. It was a reunion concert minus Sid Vicious who commited suicide in the 70's. Anyway, the concert was cancelled (no reason given) and the money was refunded. I was disappointed.

I get the Detroit News but usually just go through the ads and maybe the headlines. I decided to read it cover to cover last Monday and saw the listing for the PIL concert. The price was right and it was at a small venue which sounded promising. Chris went to Pontiac and bought the tickets and my MIL graciously agreed to babysit. We were all set.

My best friend, Sarah purchased a ticket for herself. We picked her up on the way there and waited outside in the setting sun and nipply cold. The show was set to start at 8pm but there was no opening band and we were finally let in closer to 9pm.

Sarah and I headed to the rest room and Chris found us a prime place to watch Johnny belt it out. The show was standing room only which was a different experience for me. The awesome thing was, we were about as close to the stage as we could get.

I had a side convo with the two guys on our right about Doc Martens. And the guy on our left took pictures continuously through the show. You would think that he might want to actually watch the concert but apparently he was good with living vicariously through his digital camera. I don't get it.

We had a fun time. I can now say I have seen Johnny Rotten in person. He lived up to the typical raucous punk name with snot rockets, spitting and gargling liquor between songs. Not to be left out was some swearing at a couple guys in the audience and telling the security guard to bugger off his stage. I did almost get kicked in the head by a wannabe crowd surfer. She was donned in an old police hat, plantinum blond hair and punk make-up. Me, Sarah and a few others moved out of her initial crowd dive. Chris was the only one there to catch her which he did and set her down.

My ears didn't really ring like Sarah's and Chris' did. I enjoyed myself and can't wait until my next concert, June 10th. Psychedelic Furs is one of my favorite bands from back in the day.

The Stinky Cheese Man

I read this to Maura last night and to Nolan at naptime today. They both liked it and I did too! I think it is awesome that this author makes reading fun by being silly. It catches the kids off guard and brings parents and kids together. I am loving the fact that Maura announced at lunch today that she "loves reading!"

Gardening Time is here Again

So.... It's getting to be that time where I start digging in the dirt and planting things. I am doing some research and stumbled upon this book that I think will be quite useful. I am trying to find the best flowers to plant in my super shady front yard. I have a list and will try to narrow it down to the prettiest with a combination of different blooming times.

More Great Good Food

Great Good Food: Luscious Lower-fat CookingThis cookbook is becoming my new favorite. It's not because I have cooked several things from it already BUT because it has inspired me to get cooking again and creating. I love cooking but sometimes I get in these slumps where ordering out is easier. For me, going to a restaurant is NEVER easier so that staves off a lot of eating out. I am happy that I am back into the swing of things. I am trying to make good, healthy meals that we will all like or at least give a try.

Happy Birthday to You

We read this the night of Nolan's actual birthday and it was my first time reading it. We all enjoyed it. I think that from now on, each year we will read this for each kid on their birthday. It just made things a little more silly and a little more special.

Great Good Food

Great Good Food: Luscious Lower-fat Cooking

I love freecycle.org. I have been gifted so many nice free things and the last thing was two cookbooks. One is called Great Good Food and the other is Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant. I perused Great Good Food this morning and came up with some recipes for this week. Today, the kids and I will be making raspberry lemon muffins and banana muffins. Some other things for this week's menu are; Garlic Chicken, Herb Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus and Chicken Madeira. I will update with the results.

Gnossos and New York

I really tried to read in the car to and from New York but it just wasn't happening. You stick five women in a car on a road trip to New York and try to find a second to read. There was so much to talk about and share, not to mention all the excitement of what we would see and do and where we would go.
The entire time we were in New York, we were busy busy busy! And I can read at home so I enjoyed my time in the city. I think I squeezed every second of New York into my day every day we were there.
I did sooo much and walked a lot. I saw some things that made me laugh and some that brought tears to my eyes. I smelled the wonderful and horrible smells that in combination can only be described as New York.
On the car ride home, it was quiet. I dozed off once but there was usually at least one person sleeping at all times. I did open my book and I would start to feel a little car sick and didn't want to push it so that was that.

Good Night New York

There wasn't a link to Good Night New York. But that is the book that we got Nolan last year when we visited New York. We weren't in the city but we were in New York, that counts right? So, I am trying to think of a decent time-sustaining souvenir to bring back for the kids. Maura asked for a vet bag (like a doctor's medical bag but with vet's instruments included) and a Huskie, Dalmation or Collie stuffed animal. Nolan just asked for a hammer. Pretty funny. We got Nolan the Good Night book, along with a CD from a Renaissance Fest. we attended in New York State and it is STILL the only music he will listen to at night. It's been 2.5 years!
By the way, the kids do have Good Night Chicago also. We got that for them three years ago on a trip to Chi Town. If all else fails, I will bring back Smash Crash with an inscription from us stating where we got it.

Love Dare Update

I am on Day 8 of Love Dare, Love is not jealous. I have done pretty well with the dares so far. I think it is kind of cheating with Chris at work all day. There is a very minimum amount of time that we are together for me to complete the dares. Yesterday wasn't a problem because it entailed writing a list and then giving a compliment. But there are days when I feel like I am getting away with something because I feel like I am really only doing the dare for two or three hours.

I still like the book and think that it will help me to think about things before I say them. It makes me think a little more about how other people feel in certain situations. And it is causing some reflection on my own part that makes me realize that I really am not as perfect as I would sometimes like to think I am.

Baloney

So, we read this last night and I would have to say it is my least favorite of Scieszka's works so far. It used silly-sounding words throughout which ended up being spoonerisms, foreign words and transpositions. Maura seemed to like the book and understood the story through the goobledy-gook of words.
We ended up talking about how Maura and I have both made words up. When she was a baby she called my grandma's walking cane a gonka and that's what my grandparents, our household and some other family members call it now too! When I was little I couldn't pronounce my great-grandfather Wojciechoski's name. I called him Grandpa Hucky and that stuck.

Monday Library Trips

Every Monday I take the kids to the library. We go right from my daughter's school and sometimes we run into some of her classmates. Today, we saw Emma. And we met a very friendly little girl named Zurrie who talked about all the different names that Santa Claus has. She named them off as Santa Claus, Mr. Claus, Santa, St. Nick...
This week Nolan chose Smash Crash again and I chose Baloney also by Jon Scieszka. Nolan also picked The Button Book by Magarette S. Reid and Baby Einstein's Wordsworth Book of Words (A Bilingual Book of Words) and I chose The Curious Garden by Peter Brown for him.
Maura's picks were Love Me Love You by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe, O Holy Night (Christmas with the Boys Choir of Harlem) with a companion CD and pictures by Faith Ringgold. She also picked Princess Jeweliana and the Sparkling Rainbow Ball by Allia Zobel and Adam's Daycare by Julie Ovenell-Carter and Ruth Ohi. I am going to review these books in my words and my kid's opinions on them. I think that will be fun!

birthdays and beyond

Yesterday, we celebrated my son's birthday. He didn't get one book NOT even from his mom and dad. We did go to Border's three days before the party and he bought himself a painting book. His sister bought him a book and gave it to him on his actual birthday. I think that since he got $20 cash and a $50 gift card to Target, we will buy at least one book. Nolan's new favorite book is called Smash Crash by Jon Scieszka. We have read this book everyday since Monday for bedtime and naptime reading. Apparently, there is a whole Truck Town series but the Fred C. Fischer Library doesn't carry any of them. Oh well, we will find one somewhere.

technical writing

So, my third year of college, I took a technical writing class. It wasn't the most exciting but I got an A. Well, pretty much everyone has to read instructions for putting something together. And whether it is a piece of furniture a toy or something else, you know that sometimes it just plain sucks. Maybe I should have been a technical writer. It would have been boring but maybe I would have helped someone get something together a little better.

Welcome

I am up and running. I am happy and a little proud. I really do try to stay with the times but sometimes I fall short. For example, I am on my second EVER cell phone and I only use it for emergencies. I don't own an Ipod or MP3 player and never have although I do still have my portable CD player. I have been contemplating a Kindle though so see I try.

books and stories

I have a passion for reading and have a really hard time NOT reading something. I remember reading all the shampoo bottles while in the bath as a child or the ketchup bottle at the table. I can't help picking something up to read no matter where I am.

Right now I am working on two books. The first is Love Dare by Stephen and
Alex Kendrick. This was featured in the movie Fireproof. I didn't start reading it as a way to "fix" anything. I think it has some good ideas and I want to use the "dares" in my daily life to enhance my relationships with my children and my husband. I am on the third dare of the book and really like the book so far. I will update with more.

The other book I am reading hasn't been a struggle but I haven't really been hanging on each page either. It is called Been Down So Long Looks Like Up To Me by
Richard Farina. Some of his ideas are either ahead of his time or just plain timeless. I was impressed with his ideas of air pollution, preservatives and the heirachy of society. I am definitely going to keep reading it but am looking forward to some more deep stuff in there.