let's be onto something

more downton

2012-01-30T18:56:00.000-08:00

Is everyone still enjoying Downton Abbey? I can't tell you how much I look forward to nap time on Monday afternoons so I can watch.

Episode 4 felt like it was all of 15 minutes and yet so much happened! If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend you have some tissue on hand.

And did you see the preview for episode 5? I heard a rumor about the mysterious gentleman at the end of the preview. Who knows how that will play out!

I hope those that are watching are loving it as much as I am!

for my book lovin' friends

2012-01-11T12:29:00.000-08:00

You can thank Mr. Wiley for sending me this video. Nerd love. It's a glorious thing.

almost here

2012-01-05T17:24:00.001-08:00

I've been waiting and now the wait is almost over. Who's with me? I'll be watching it online as of Monday! If you need a refresher, you can watch all of season 1 online.

Here are some previews to get you excited...

Watch Downton Abbey I Wonder Preview on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

Watch Downton Abbey Season 2 With or Without You Preview. on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

bicycles: good, bipeds: good, biographies: bad?

2011-11-28T07:07:00.001-08:00

If you want to see an adorable representation of Paul Newman, go here. If you want your rosy glasses rudely removed, read this biography.

For starters, that cover photo is just laughable! There are so many good pictures of Mr. Paul Newman (many of them inside the book), but this shirtless, serious face is just silly. I browsed this book over the weekend because he is one of my favorites in the older movies. (Nate and) I think he's just dreamy. So handsome and a pretty good actor. And then of course there's his romantic long marriage with Joanne Woodward, who I also think is a good actress.

I like her even better after reading (about half of) P. N.'s biography. (She made that dress she's wearing at the Oscars!) Unfortunately I no longer hold him in the highest regard. Thanks a lot, facts, for ruining rosy idealisms.

I also have a hard time reading biographies because they're BORING. Even interesting lives are boring when they're laid out like a really really detailed timeline. Have any of you read a good biography that would change my opinion of them? I always think it's a good idea to read them, but then once I get started I get a) bored and/or b)disillusioned and quit. I don't think I've ever read a whole biography, front to back!

inside my library bag

2011-11-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be fun to give you a peek inside my jumbo library bag (courtesy of the National Book Festival we attended a while back). I've been taking Axton and Elodie to story time, which is every other week. I've never done story time until this fall, but now we're regulars.

So what came home with me? Well, if I left it up to Axton, there would have been a ton more books. He "helped" pick books, which meant he pulled book after book off the shelf and declared, "Ohhh this is a good one!" Elodie "helped" too. She did the same thing as her brother, but without the declarations.

For the Kids

Good Night Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Truck Duck by Michael Rex
SUPERMOO by Babette Cole
The Delicious Bug by Janet Perlman
Red Light, Green Light by Margaret Wise Brown
Tick-Tock, Drip-Drop: A Bedtime Story by Nicola Moon
Good Night Engines by Denise DOwling Mortensen
Pumpernickel Tickle and Mean Green Cheese by Nancy Patz
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Today Is Monday by Eric Carl

And because I'm feeling festive...

The First Thanksgiving by Jean Craighead George

As a creature of habit. I always get 2-3 DVDs and 2 kid CDs.
For this week's viewing and listening pleasure:

Little Einsteins: The Legend of the Golden Pyramid (Axton LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Little Einsteins!!! It is the only thing he likes to watch over and over and over. It's a good thing because that's how I get my shower in the morning)
Seasame Street: Learning About Letters
Holiday Songs For All Occasions music and words by Jill Gallina
Sesame Street Playground: Songs and Videos from Around the World by Putumayo Kids

But really, I'm most interested in this pile...

Soup of the Day by Lydie Marshall
The Wonder of Boys by Michael Gurian
The Trouble with Boys by Angela Phillips

Hmmm? In case you were wondering, I don't think there is anything wrong with Axton, I just want to understand his world and nature and be sure I'm doing enough for him and allowing him to be a boy. Sometimes I worry that as a woman, I try to stiffle his natural almost three years old boy tendancies too much. This is a topic that has been on my mind a lot of late. My library didn't have the specific book I wanted, but I'll see how these books cover it. Carrie and Stephanie, any thoughts since you live in boyland? Have you read anything like this?

and last but not least

Becoming Jane: I need to rewatch this. I didn't like it much the first time, but given my tend of not liking and then liking a film the second time, I'll probably end up happy with this one.

What's in your library bag? Want to do an "inside my library bag" post of your own the next time you hit the library? It'll be fun.

google, technology, hunger games, so so lazy

2011-10-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

My husband is reading the Hunger Games trilogy. I'm pretty sure all of you have read them but no one has posted about it! I learned this from searching "Hunger Games" on our blog, which we can do because of Google and technology.

You all mostly liked them, I see. So do I. But I haven't read them. Bwa ha ha. Let me explain. Nate is the kind of reader who can tell someone the whole story afterward--or in sessions. And that's what he did with the first book. I then got impatient and (no, I didn't read them) googled the next two books so I know how it ends and how it happens. Hello, lazy, it's me.

I like them, but also I hate them because they are SO SAD. The very idea of Hunger Games makes me so mad, and all of the years it had been going on? Well that is just so many people who were basically murdered. Oooh. And then the ending, and who she ends up with--well, this part I probably would like more if I had read the details of the book and gotten the details of their relationship the whole time. And I got lazy in my Googling and didn't even find out what really happened to Gale, so why am I even writing this?

Wait, why am I?
I don't know, I just feel like I should post about these books since none of you did. Silly Melissa.

Oh The Romance of a Penguin

2011-10-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

I love this little board book. It is the sweetest little thing and right in line with my idea of love. I think my dear friend Jen introduced me to and I now pick it up and read every time I am at bookstore. I will go to a lot of work to find it even though I have read it a million times. This last week I decided it's time to buy.

I wanted to share this great book with you all (this is pretty much all the reading I am doing lately). Look for it next time you are out, it's worth a read. In fact I like pretty much everything I have read of hers, but personal penguin is my favorite.

Thank you thank you thank you

2011-10-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

For your help and listening ears and advice and inspiring good influences and cheerleading me on. I'm sorry to always be so gushy, but I just love you all so much. I really really do.

Here's what I ended up with and there's no turning back now.

I am settled on not having the two units but just discussing all four types of relationships and how they play into the each piece (family, romantic, friendship, societal) in:

Into the Wild by Krakauer
Persuasion by Austen
Death of a Salesman by Miller
The Assistant by Malamud
Chocolat by Harris

Into the Wild will get the boys and girls on board from the get-go because it usually does. Persuasion is for me and is a short Austen with great relationships. Death of a Salesman is a great choice since I am ready to take a break from the Crucible. The Assistant is good 20thcent NYC Jewish American lit and I love that. Chocolat is a good note to end on. So much to discuss in Chocolat too with family, friendship, romance and society but just light enough to still be fun. And we can eat chocolate.

Thanks again loves!

Help!

2011-10-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

Hey bookish types,

I just found out I am teaching 201 (the course with novels and plays) next semester again and I am sick of my old books and themes from last year and I have to give them my book list by FRIDAY! (Hang on while I catch my breath. Ok, thanks.)

I think I am a dark person because my conflict in the coming of age theme last time turned out to be pretty dark. The novels varied each semester or term, but went something like:
Into the Wild (he dies)
House on Mango Street (she gets raped)
The Bell Jar (suicide)
My Name is Asher Lev (kicked out of his community and isolated)
Night (takes place in Auschwitz)
The Crucible (witch trials and hangings of innocent people)
Persepolis (has to leave her family and go out alone due to war)

I think that's about it.... I mean, all great novels have conflict, but some of these were particularly dark I guess. Students are going to really love or really hate everything I have found, but I am ready for a fresh start.

So I am thinking of a theme having to do with relationships and the way they shape a novel.

I have to have at least one play and I am thinking:
The Cocktail Party by TS Eliot
or
The Crucible again because I can't think right now....

Now on to the fun part, novels... here are the possibilities (and there are many and some I am like I am really not going to use that, but I am brainstorming like a chicken with it's head cut-off right now HELP!):
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Fitzgerald (anyone actually read this... not me, but I want to)
Jane Eyre - Bronte (too long for unenthusiastic college students?)
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone- Rowling (WHAT?! It could be fun!)
Joy Luck Club- Amy Tan
In Cold Blood- Capote (dark, but so so interesting... see I am a dark person!)

Ok, most of those were dark. Hmmmmm.

And in the unlikely category, but still:
To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee (I think most people have read this in high school)
I Capture the Castle -Dodie Smith (too frilly girly for a college course?)
The Giver -Lois Lowry (another high school read?)
Chocolat- Joanne Harris (I love this story, but I want to have the right balance of challenging and light reads)
Night- by Elie Wiesel is just a quick, excellent read but I am not sure I want to use it again

Suggestions? Immediate red-flags? Comments? PLEASE HELP!

Speaking of Jane Eyre

2011-10-02T21:45:00.001-07:00

I am watching the 2006 version tonight just because I re-read your post about it Star. Time to compare the two since the just watched the current one.

Any thoughts?

oh! the veil scene.

2011-09-25T15:36:00.000-07:00

We just watched Jane Eyre last night. I thought it was awesome! I liked how everything translated from Gothic novel to film. It was creepy enough but not too dark, the acting was great, the direction was great, and I really liked the cinematography. (Reminding you all that I've never read the book.)

And guess what, the veil scene you all missed from the book is a deleted scene on the DVD! And now I know what you were talking about! Woo.

The Happiness Project

2011-09-23T16:52:00.001-07:00

I have two main problems right now.

1. I am sure someone on here already read and reviewed this book like my last post. Am I wrong? I can't find the post so I guess not?

2. I frequently read four books at once. So, right now I am partway into The Grapes of Wrath, The New Kings of Nonfiction, I just picked up The Lemon Tree and up until last night I was engrossed in The Happiness Project.

Well, I finished The Happiness Project last night and I am inspired! I all but skipped her chapter on spirituality because that makes me gag. I don't have to search for religious enlightenment thankfully, so thanks but no thanks Gretchen, I'm good.

Other than gasping at the fact that there was no mention of Jesus Christ at all in the huge section on spiritual figures to emulate, I really liked the book.

I think many people in our crew could relate to her perspective. It feels a little tedious and self-centered at times, but she acknowledges that and, I mean, it's a book about HER happiness journey so it makes sense.

I just don't like books like, Eat, Pray, Love that are about "self-discovery" or "self-realization" in a potentially dangerous way. I think my problem with that one is that she really had no real problems other than boredom in a life she had created. She had a nice life and she chose to tear it apart and go on this big, dramatic journey to "find herself" and women are going to look at that and say, "Yeah, my life is not a huge, thrilling, traveling, wining and dining kind of life! I want out of consistent normalcy and structure and want to travel the world! Who cares if that is not at all what life is about and if I should work out things with people I could really hurt!" Get what I mean? Rant done. All I meant to say was that her happiness search was productive and her family benefitted from it.

I find myself wanting to start my own happiness project even though I don't feel particularly sad right now, just because.

I would whole-heartedly recommend this to any of my dear pals up in here.

downton abbey returns

2011-09-20T16:43:00.001-07:00

My friends, Downton Abbey will be returning on January 8th! That's only 109 more days, according the countdown on the website. (I think it's really funny that there is a countdown.)

Watch the full episode. See more Masterpiece.

And, for a limited time, you can re-watch all the episodes online.

the lemon tree

2011-09-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

Ok just real quick-like i want to say that I just put The Lemon Tree on hold at the library and will be reading it with my church book group this month. So if you are looking for a book to read simultaneously pick it up and let's read! And now back to discussing Steph's post down there...

Betty can relax now.

2011-09-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

For the last year or so my mom has been bugging me to read books.

First this one:

And then around March or so this one:

And last month I read them both.

I feel they have both already been talked about or at least mentioned on here. Am I wrong?

I apologize if we are discussing this twice. Has anyone read these? Carrie, you read The Help. What did you think of the movie?

I love these kinds of books because they are meant to be 100percent gratifying and pleasurable to read. I feel like, especially for my job, I read a lot of things that are meant to be thought provoking, or symbolic, but not always for the simple joy of reading terrific story-telling.

I am not saying there is no depth to these novels, but they won't be the next Moby Dick (and thank heavens for that!) or Great Gatsby (I like both those books when you get right down to it but I guess that means high school students won't be forced to read these books for time and all eternity, which is really a shame because maybe then they might fall in love with reading....).

Anyway, I read some books friends.

Right now I am reading Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath since it is "embarrassing that I grew up in Bakersfield and still haven't read that book!" Betty wins again. :)

hungry

2011-08-31T15:56:00.000-07:00

i don't post on my regular blog much anymore so i though i'd try out posting here for a minute...

i've read a couple of books. firstly a little book called the help. heard of it? it's positively lovely. i didn't love the movie though. but that is not what i came to post about.

have any of you, perchance, read hungry by crystal renn? garance dore has been writing a series of posts recently chronicling her adjustment from "paris thin" to "new york thin" and mentioned this book as an interesting read. it is a biography by one of the only plus sized models you've probably ever really seen in fashion magazines. She talks about her struggles with anorexia and her eventual acceptance of her larger figure. i'm just not sure what to think right now.

a big part of me is just so happy for her that she went from 95 lbs to 170 and is really thrilled with her body. i think it is awesome for a woman of any size to feel that comfortable with herself. and she's a different body type than is normally seen in magazines, which is fun to see sometimes buuuuuut...

part of me is really superficial and if every model in the fashion magazines wore a size 12-16 i'd probably stop looking at them as much. i feel so sad and even ashamed to admit that but it's the sorry truth. i am totally one of the consumers driving this demand of insanity! and part of me is really annoyed that she sites all these studies, and twists facts to make us believe that skinny people have shorter life expectancies (!) and are less healthy than those who are clinically overweight. that just sounds like craziness to me, but is it the same situation as when we were all told forever as children that fat is the devil and if you don't eat fat you won't get fat and then one day it all changed and we were like, "whaaaaaa?"? <-- good punctuation eh?

and you know, the part of me that feels annoyed is probably the same part that is scared to death of "being fat" and although i realize this is the crazy part of me coming out, i don't think i can ever let it go. i can eat a treat now and then and not feel guilty, but if i gain 5 lbs i can't turn off the obsessive reel that runs in my mind. sigh.

which is all culminating to say, maybe this book is just about accepting yourself as you are, and stop trying to fight and control your body, and beat it into submission. and maybe it is meant to be a justification to those who want to be happy with who they are but aren't. but for me, i just ended up thinking, well that's all fine and good but you'd look a lot better and move a lot quicker if you'd drop 30 lbs. and maybe i should get a gym membership cause i'd look and feel better minus 5 more too.

sorry this is kind of a downer. OH and this is not an invitation to engage in "fat talk" as she talks about in the book ("noooo, you are so skinny and pretty! i'm the fat one!"). pretty please no mention of my size or looks to make me feel better. i just wanted to be honest for a minute. and i am generally happy with how i look.

electronics

2011-07-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

Robot voice: Hel. lo. I am aaan elec.tronic. book. It's like a real book. Only without pages. Read meee.

I just finished my first ever electronic book, The Moonstone. The choice is kind of funny for an electronic book, since it was written in the mid nineteenth century and it is known as the precursor to detective novels and Sherlock Holmes. Mixing old and new, that's what I do.

Year: 1868
Author: Wilkie Collins, English fellow, writer, opium-eater and illegitimate child-sirer.
Location: Yorkshire, London, India!
Genre: It says it's a romance novel right on the cover, but it's a thievery mystery! How bout that!
Sub-genre: Epistolary novel, multi-narrator novel, social commentary novel, funny novel.
Narrator(s): There are so many, it's funny. We've got a butler, a crazy evangelical ladies aid woman, a lawyer, a sea captain, the thief himself, and more.
Commentary on the Story: The story could have been written in about five pages. It's a real shocker when you realize what really happened, but my oh my it takes a long time to get there.

Look at this weird illustration I found!

Keywords: Diamonds! Imperialism! Kissing Cousins! Lady! Death! Murder! Shams! Innocence! Guilt! Mistaken conclusions! Stubbornness! Drugs! Lies! Assumptions! Discoveries and comeuppance!

App: Kobo on my iphone. The app was free, the book was free, and now you know how I chose to read this as my first ever electronic book. Freeness. I discovered I like reading on my phone because I can read a page or two anywhere! anytime! but I did not like reading on my phone because it's small and about twenty words fit on one screen. Have any of you guys read books on your phones? Or other reading devices? Do tell.

btw diana is the most famous! updated

2011-07-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

Diana, dear, how can you move away? Once you do, you'll NEVER be able to fit a party in Cache Valley into your schedule!

Oh gosh, I just saw this, too!!!

!!!!!

Congratulations on being so awesome (still)!

Alright my dear friends,

2011-07-17T00:02:00.001-07:00

Who's ready to discuss?

Rather than write it twice...

2011-07-13T23:37:00.001-07:00

I posted about a book I'm in love with...

Have you heard of it?

It's Me, B: An Explanation

2011-07-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

So I have started something that I am a little nervous-- almost embarrassed about. I am starting a single girl blog. I am trying to do this blog anonymously, meaning I don't care if people know it's me but I am do want it to have certain anonymity. I feel like girls will relate more to it if they aren't distracted by the who I am.

I really feel nervous because I worry that this might seem a little presumptuous; like I think that my ideas or experiences are especially valuable. I don't and they aren't. But, I do feel like I need to do this. I have felt like I should for a while and ignored it, then I finally started it but still shied away from it by not posting very often. However, the guilt is going to consume me if I don't start prioritizing this into my life.

So I am doing this because I feel like I should and because it is good to practice writing and because I actually really like to talk about dating and because I don't always like what I hear being said about dating.

Take it or leave it but for whatever it's worth this is something I need to do

http://notdesperateinslc.blogspot.com/

keep the anonymity in mind and if you want to read it and if you ever want to comment try to not call me by name.

ok... I guess this is real now. I am committing to this. Gulp

divine secrets of the nostalgia sisterhood

2011-07-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

I told Nate a little bit about the Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood while I was reading it. He asked me if I wanted to be like them; I said "You mean be an alcoholic bad mother? No." But truthfully, there are so many enticing things about them that I do kind of want to be like them--however I realize that all of those enticing things have to do with the nostalgia I have for the time periods in the book (the late '30s through early '60s). Stuff seemed so awesome from then! Just look!

However, there are (obvious) downsides to the past. Serious racial inequality (especially in the south where the book is set) housewives not having checking accounts, lack of air conditioning, no internet, science being slightly misleading (e.g. pills they thought were good for you, sun protection, modified "food" products). My big eternal quandary is why couldn't we have kept the advancements that were good for us, but also have kept the old-fashioned things that were good for us? (Like walking more, more time with families, knowing your neighbors, singing in public, physical photographs, thrift, letters in the mail, coke from a bottle, knowing how to dance and swim, bathing in pansies, ETC.)

I think this is our job, guys, to live with the good of the old and the good of the now. Who's with me!

What the--taking a bath in pansies?! What a nutcase!

yadda yadda

2011-06-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

I'm rereading The Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood because it's summertime and I wish I had some girlfriends, and nothing does summertime or girlfriends like YaYa. If you have read it you know what I mean. It also makes me want to watch the movie again (so I have something to do while I nurse of course), but just five minutes in I remember why it bugged me so much when it came out. Can I tell you about it? Ok thanks.

Mostly,

CASTING.

I have never been to the South (capital S), so the movie is great at representing some scenes in the book that I just can't picture properly.

And I just have to say that I am no stickler for movies having to be just like the book.

HOW-ever,

if a movie is going to be mostly like the book and represent some of its scenes so well, it can't just ignore some basic easy details! Can it? No! Come on.

Now that I've seen the movie, I picture the people at least somewhat like their movie characters and it's messing me all up. For example:

Little Vivi is supposed to have blond curls. Little blond curls!

Sidda is not supposed to be Sandra Bullock. That's it, she's just not.

Old Vivi is supposed to be fit and not look her age. Like she still plays tennis twice a week. And doesn't look so elderly.

And the older YaYas! Please! They kill me. First of all, Professor McGonagall was never a southern belle, not even a beatnik one like Caro. Teensie is supposed to be a tiny classy Cajun woman.

A tiny classy Cajun woman.

(That is her on the far right, by the way.) Necie's casting is fine, I guess, since she was supposed to be the most motherly looking of the four of them, but I still don't think she's quite right. They're all so grandmotherly; it's just not right.

The teenage/young mother casting is okay, I suppose. I think Ashley Judd does a really good Vivi-mom job (except the whole "true blond" thing she's supposed to have going).

Now if I didn't just ruin it for you, tell me what you think. Have any of you read it (or care about what I'm blabbing about)? Of course, there are some parts of the book that the movie totally changed for no good reason, but stuff like that I can deal with, as long as it doesn't ruin my image while I'm reading.

JULY 9TH

2011-06-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

Just for the sake of proving that I'm actually having a party, let's set a date. Was July 9th an option for anyone? I wish you could all come. ALL OF YOU.

Please comment with a comment.

speaking of masterpiece

2011-05-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

We've been watching the Masterpiece Mystery! (I love it when titles have exclamations in them.) series Sherlock. Obviously, we like Sherlock Holmes, and obviously those Masterpiece people know what they're doing. This miniseries is taking Sherlock Holmes into contemporary times, except even doing so, it's much truer to the books than most other adaptations (especially the Roberty Downey Jr./Jude Law movie, which I still liked). Do you guys watch any of the other Masterpiece shows besides the Classics?

because i just can't help myself

2011-05-13T19:44:00.000-07:00

Here is another one for you. Boy do I love Masterpiece Theatre! Hubs and I are watching this tonight.

Watch the full episode. See more Masterpiece.

Best Books of All Time?

2011-05-10T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

I am trying to work reading back into my official schedule. I hear about interesting books constantly and then when it comes time to read I can never remember what they were. Also, there are still plenty "classics" that I have never read and lots that I haven't read in such a long time they deserve a reread. So i started googling lists of the top 100 books of all time to help me compile a list of books. There were a lot of different lists of books and I did manage to find some to put on my list. Here's some of what I found:

There were many that I have read and love, such as: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Gone with the Wind, Persuasion, Scarlet Letter, Pride and Prejudice, etc.

Some that I wouldn't say I loved: The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, Wuthering Heights (sorry Boo, I re-watched the movie and still don't love this story), the Fountainhead, Heart of Darkness etc.

Plenty of books that I have no interest in reading: A Clockwork Orange (meh) or Tess of the D'Urbervilles (why does Hardy always have to be such a downer?), etc. Also, they had The Twilight series (I think these are fun stories, but the top 100 books of all time? Not even kinda) or something called Snow Crash. Here is what Time Magazine had to say about Snow Crash:

"Hiro Protagonist is a freelance hacker and unemployed pizza deliveryman in a post-lapsarian, hyper-capitalist future America... When a virulent computer virus (or is it a drug? or a religion?) called Snow Crash gets loose and somehow starts infecting humans. Hiro teams up with a sassy skateboard messenger to save..."

That's as far as I could stand on that review so needless to say that book is probably not for me.

Anyway, it started to occur to me that I don't really care what Time Magazine, The Guardian or something called squidoo.com thinks I should read. I do, however, care what you think.

So, let's be onto must reads. What books would be on your list? Tell me favorite books or books you've always wanted to read.

to eyre is human

2011-04-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

OK, so I've been wanting to post about Jane Eyre for weeks now, but every time I sat down to write, nothing happened in my brain. The best I could do was to come up with the title of this post. Wow. What happened to the chic who could pump out a 10-12 page paper in one sitting as an English major way back when? Yikes!

So, did you see it?

I liked it. I didn't like it. But I think I liked it more than I didn't like it. Ya follow? I know, I'm doing a really good job at this, huh?

The other day at playgroup one mom asked me what I thought of the movie. She said, "The preview made it look like Batman." To be honest, I agree. I was expecting it to be even more Gothic. It was dark. They didn't spend much time on the happy moments. I'm okay with that though, I mean, come on, it is Jane Eyre.

I saw the movie with a bunch of other ladies. At the end everyone in the theatre just sat and said, huh? No one knew what to think of it as soon as it was over.

As I said, I liked it. I think I like it more and more as time passes. It was difficult to like it as I was watching it. I love the 2007 Masterpiece Theatre adaptation of Jane Eyre. I love, love, love it. I was comparing versions the whole time. I did the same thing when Focus Film's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice came out. I didn't like it at first, but now I love, love, love it too.

Back to Jane Eyre. Like it for what it is and don't think of what it's not. They left out a ton of details, symbolism, characters, etc., but they had to to make it fit the standard 2 hour time frame. See it, rent it, etc. It's worth it, because if nothing else, seeing it will make you think.

Oh, and did you know about Upstairs Downstairs? Hubs and I just finished the third episode last night. You might want to see that too.

Watch the full episode. See more Masterpiece.

You can view all three episodes online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/

supa lazy

2011-04-22T09:24:00.000-07:00

Hey pals, I'm so lazy I can't even think of a cool way to make our jumprope man header look good. Sorry. In other news, it looks like some of you wouldn't be opposed to coming to my house for a party this summer. Sweet! Let's go with a Friday or Saturday evening so we can roast or barbeque and it won't be so hot.

I'm busy late June and early August. July is holidayful, but we could dodge the holidays if you want. What do you say, mid June or mid July? Anyone care?

PS It's ok if you can't come, I'll still love you and we'll roast a mallow in your honor.

peace.
xxoom

I Have Always Been Fond of Elephants

2011-04-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

So I decided to read a book.

I had heard good things from people but more importantly I would like to see the movie and always feel a bit like a phony when I see a movie and haven't read the book. I read it and I liked it. It was interesting, fast-paced, well written. Gruen brought me into the world very quickly. The way she explains the world to Jacob and us simultaneously makes it feel natural to participate in a very unnatural experience. Another great thing is how Gruen seamlessly mixes circus folklore into her story so you end up with a sort of crazy education.

I really did enjoy it however, there is one big caveat. Gruen is a very descriptive writer; she is super detailed. I like books to be detailed except when for when it comes to certain moments. There are a handful of sketchy parts and they are very detailed. It's like I was there and I really didn't want to be. I really didn't want to be. Seriously it's descriptive.

So I recommend it? If you could skip those pages you would probably find it delightful but... I am torn about recommending it. I did like the book (call me a prude if you'd like) I just didn't want to read that other stuff. I am however, super excited about the movie since it's not R I am assuming it will not be as graphic.

I know what I'll be reading for the entire summer...

2011-04-13T14:03:00.001-07:00

Maybe for the rest of my life.

If you are too lazy to read

2011-04-08T18:13:00.000-07:00

If you are too lazy to read, then you might watch a lot of TV and movies so you can still get your fiction fix.

If you are the kind or girl that needs fiction fixes, then you probably watch a lot of TV and movies even when you aren't too lazy to read.

If you are watching a lot of TV and movies, then you probably want to go to the cheap theater so you don't drop a million dollars going to multiple movies a week.

If you like to go to the cheap theater, then you probably really want to discuss movies that aren't exactly new.

If you want to discuss movies that aren't exactly new, that must mean the clowns that went with you to the movie probably didn't enjoy the movie as much as you did.

If the clowns you went with you to the movie didn't enjoy the movie as much as you did, then you probably feel a bit sad, confused, and curious. Wondering if you are lame or if your clown friends are.

If you are feeling sad, confused, and curious. Wondering if you are lame or if your clown friends are then, you would quickly come to the conclusion that you can't possibly be lame.

If you quickly came to the conclusion that you can't possibly be lame, then you must want vindication, or maybe just validation about your movie opinion.

If you want vindication or at least validation about your movie opinion, then you might post about said movies on a blog read by really cool people.

If you post about movies on a blog read by really cool people, then you could maybe get some discussion about movies.

If you get some discussion about movies, then you might be able to fill the void of not exercising your intellect by reading.

If you can fill the void of not exercising your intellect by reading, then you you will probably be too lazy to read.

This has to be one of the most emotionally realistic and subtle romantic comedies that I have seen. It is still a romantic comedy so maybe subtle isn't the perfect word. But, I found the movie charming and funny. It avoids a lot of the usual annoying romcom pitfalls. There is not a huge, desperate misunderstanding brought about by two people "in love" that refuse to just be upfront and honest. There is not the typical heavy handed direction to insure that every moment is so blatant no viewer could misunderstand or have room for interpretation. There is: a really sweet proposal scene in a hospital that could rival any huge production proposal, some good acting, Owen Wilson's "player" character is so well done that I would actual date him, and Paul Rudd is adorably flawed as usual. I don't want to oversell this movie because it's not going to change your life. But, the little things in this movie made it ring truer to me than romcoms usual do. It is slow moving and the exact opposite of

a movie like The Notebook. So basically it has everything that I enjoy in a film. Give it a shot and let's all prove to Hollywood that we not only notice and understand directional nuance but we actually enjoy it more than being hit over the head even in a silly romantic comedy.

Speaking of well acted, Rabbit Hole is just lovely. It's not for the faint of heart and it isn't incredibly cheerful. But, it is a painfully beautiful glimpse into the heartache a couple

experiences after the loss of a child. I really loved it. It reminded me of the Robert Frost poem Home Burial (which I also love). This movie is all about how personal grief can be, how deep and individual loss is. How easily it can lead to resentment. How when unchecked, grief leads to confusion and competition with loved ones left behind. How it can create a desperate need to prove you feel most, you feel deepest, you're grief is more real and more correct. How the the world could benefit from an understanding and use of the atonement. However, this movie is so well done it could be too real for someone that has a child. So all you moms proceed with caution.

History, research, architecture, murder. Something for everyone?

2011-03-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

OK, so I joined a book club (hooray! reading and social engagement!), and we just read this book.

Can I just say that I found it fascinating? Good, because I'm going to say it: This book is fascinating. It's a historical review of the events surrounding the Chicago Columbus Exhibition (I always have heard it called the World's Fair) of 1893. Honestly, it was a feat of amazing architectural, cultural and artistic measures. It was an opportunity for a fairly downtrodden city to prove to the country and world that it could do something even better than when Paris unveiled the Eiffel tower (though I'm not sure the lasting impression has been nearly as significant as Paris's). It was the launch of things like Shredded Wheat, the Ferris wheel, and possibly even Walt Disney's fantastic visions.

Did I mention this book is also about a serial killer who used the fair to lure victims into his personal castle of terror? Yeah, I have to admit that is the part that hooked me. I asked Jesse one night, "Is it bad that I look forward to the murder chapters?"

And yes, the murder chapters are chilling and bizarre and made me all kinds of worried about nice people. But at the end of the day, the sections about the creation of the fair are what have stuck with me.

Overall, I think it was super great but I wish the author would have cut maybe 30 pages about building the fair. It got a bit tedious in parts. But honestly, the research in this book was AMAZING. I wish I were teaching a research writing course again just so I could make freshmen read it and see how cool good research really is.

I hope some of you have read it so we can talk about it. If you haven't read it, it was a pretty fast read for me, so you should do it. Now. And I had to miss my book club meeting this month, so I'm aching to discuss it.

in a sunburned country by bill bryson

2011-03-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure Bill Bryson isn't the hippest non-fiction writer out there. I'm also pretty sure he's not the most academically renowned. But I like his books and I'll tell you right now I've read another one.

The book just makes me want to go there, maybe for good. He's interested in everything, including ancient mitochondria and trees, sharks, people and lots of beer, so that's what he talks about. It's all really interesting stuff, and what's most interesting is his thesis (if you could claim he has one) is that Australia is most unaccountably overlooked, unnoticed, and ignored. It's got so much more than other countries, and yet is is rather innocuous so we just don't hear anything about it. Weird, right? It's huge.

So anyway, I enjoyed the book and I think you should all read it if you're so inclined. I was relieved when he had positive things to say about Perth, since Nate P has cousins there and if we ever make the trek to the other side of the world, that's where we'd go. And now I really really want to.

meh, sadly, meh

2011-02-21T09:36:00.000-08:00

The cover looked cool.

The story was interesting.

The ending was surprise.

The suspense was suspending.

The main character was a little boring maybe.

I'm not sure why this book didn't read as well as it would sound like it did if I described it to you. I liked the story, I liked the era and descriptions. I'm not quite sure what was missing, but for a British novel surrounding the Great War about a female detective who rose through the class ranks through the merit of her brains, it wasn't as captivating as I'd hoped. Bummer.

look what i stumbled upon the other night

2011-02-09T06:54:00.000-08:00

In select theatres March 11th 2011
Now I just hope I have a select one around here! It's been two years since the hubs and I saw a movie in a theatre. This looks like reason enough to change that!

wickedness never was happiness and other thoughts on downton abbey

2011-02-07T19:54:00.001-08:00

Do you ever read a book or watch a movie and wish you could send the missionaries? That's how I felt about Downton Abbey, especially the fourth episode.

Completely random thoughts...

I LOVED seeing the lives of the servants. It really fascinated me!
I really like Lord Grantham! He wasn't the stereotypical rich guy who was cold hearted and greedy. He had such a warmth and kindness about him. I really liked how he was so concerned about his family and employees.
I loved the rivalry between Mrs. Crawley and the Dowager Countess. They had some great one liners between the two of them.
I loved how the family interactions seemed more realistic since there was time for the characters to be more developed. But then again, I love these 4+ hour films!
I loved the story with Gwen and how Lady Sybil worked to help her get a job as a secretary. She was my favorite sister.
Did anyone else hope that Mary and Matthew don't hook up, at least not for a while? I'm not a fan of Mary. She doesn't deserve Matthew because yes, she messed up, but she doesn't really seem to want to improve herself and be better. She needs to see the classic seminary video on worldly sorrow vs. Godly sorrow. I was so disappointed in her at the end when she ruins her sister's opportunity for a proposal at the garden party. It shows her bitterness. And what is up with Mary not being able to give Matthew an answer? Hello! That made me mad.
I LOVE Anna! She is so sweet and sensible. I love the relationship between her and Bates.
I love Bates! He has that little twinkle in his eye like he did in North and South.
Mr. Carson... the cheerful Charlies?! Oh my!
I could have done without seeing Thomas kissing the other guy.
I'm so glad I'm not O'Brien. She needs the missionaries too!
I was thrown for a loop when we found out that Cora was pregnant. I got giddy!

So there you have some of my thoughts... now, what do YOU have to say?

Attention Crafty People

2011-02-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

This has nothing to do with books, but I think that sums up most of our posts. This is a post that is similar to spam, so ignore me if you would like, but I really do think you guys would be interested. My friends started a site called Whoopdwhoop.com where you barter items that you make. You post what you have to trade and put how many points you think it is worth. Once you collect enough points you can then use those points to buy items from other people. Check it out.

oh, let's be onto discussing downton abbey

2011-01-31T12:42:00.001-08:00

...but I don't want to give anything away for those that need a little more time to watch it. Let me know when it's safe to talk about it! I'm curious to hear your thoughts too!

the choir loves to be preached to

2011-01-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

This is going to be long. I would recommend breaking it up into a few attempts to read it...sorry.

Let me start with a story of my own. As a sophomore at BYU I had to take a 1-credit science class to make taking my dad's BYU-Idaho biology class transfer. I took food science, because I had no idea what it was and I thought we might get to eat in class. Well, I was wrong, and it was awful. And let me tell you, I was so confused that all of these BYU scientists were telling us all of the benefits of engineering and processing food. I just had the idea that unprocessed foods were better. Then, in 2008 when NieNie had her airplane accident, there were a lot of accounts of how miraculous it was that her and her husband's bodies were healing and holding on so well considering their condition. I had the distinct impression that among other things, it had a lot to do with a deliberate adherence to the Word of Wisdom.

At that time Nate and I had just been married, and we were eating mostly home-cooked, from scratch meals. However, after I started thinking about the scripture more, we started eating even fewer processed foods and trying to do more vegetables (still working on that one). I stopped buying cream of anything soup, read labels on salad dressings and peanut butter and stopped buying the ones with long lists of ingredients. Since then, we've been steadily moving in a whole foods direction, both for our health and because we just think that's how people should eat. Since then, I've blogged about a couple of books I've read that share some or most of my ideas. This is not to say we are overly nutrition-conscious, however. I make many more batches of cookies than I care to admit, I still love M&Ms (although when's the last time I bought them??), and we eat meat nearly every day (which I'd like to adjust, but it's harder than I thought). I also buy Life Cereal or Wheaties and until recently bought Neufchatel cheese instead of normal old cream cheese. We sometimes drink sodapop as a movie snack (we call pop "movie booze"). I don't think eating a little bit of science is rotten, but it is a modern supplement to our food, not the mainstay of our diets.

This is all to introduce a Michael Pollan book, In Defense of Food. I really like, and also have a slightly bitter feeling toward this book and all books and movies like it. I pretty much already agree with its major points (he succinctly puts it "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."), so it's a nice pat on my back to hear "experts" telling people to do a lot of the things I already do (or am working on). But it also inevitably depresses me; they all not-so-subtly hint that the world is so corrupt that the majority of our FOOD is even completely wrong. A big blow from this book was even our fruits and vegetable are less nutritious than they used to be; apparently you'd have to eat three apples to get the same nutrition a single 1940 apple would give you. Rude! And this because of fertilizer and the depletion of apple varieties, I think. Even if you like eating processed foods and don't think there's anything wrong with it, you've got to admit that there are some big problems with the way food is produced and distributed in the world these here days. (Right? Shoot, I don't know what other people think. I'm pretty egocentric about my food ideas. I forget that not everyone eats like I do, and I'm always surprised to learn when people don't.)

Anyway, if you're into eating whole foods for the enjoyment and experience and health of it, I recommend this book. And if you're into eating only processed foods and don't want to change (I think you're a little crazy) but I do not recommend this book because it's got some pretty good reasons to slow that habit down.

In other news, if any of you are still interested in living on my block after reading this, we can have yummy food dinner parties in my huge backyard this summer, including produce from the garden I'm really excited to plant. (Pray for me not to kill everything.)

xxoo

I am conflicted.

2011-01-13T13:42:00.000-08:00

Have you read this?

What about this?

I love them both. Immensely. Enough that I've mentioned to Jesse that if I were to ever do a PhD, O'Connor might just be the ticket to get me there. So I was certain that I would love this.

But now I am confused. So very, very confused. You see, I think I get it. (I think?) I mean, I knew it would be a bit weird and cynical, and I love those things about Miss Flannery, but this was so beyond. And I'm still waiting for a weird twist in the story. And I'm still waiting to find out what happened to Enoch. Really? We're ending on that weird note?

I think I just love her as master of the short story. And things got a bit more muddied up in the novel.

If you have read this book and know what I am talking about, can you help me try to make sense of this? If you are confused about what I am talking about because you haven't read it, that's OK. Have you ever just read something you didn't love by an author you adore and thought, "Hmm... so where do we go from here?"

Speaking of conflicted, isn't my blog super lame these days? Life has gotten so busy with our holiday travels, and then adjusting to life at home, and yadda yadda yadda that I've not been there for a long time. And I feel lame picking up where I'm at now (entirely skipping Penelope's first Christmas and whatnot), but I'm so not a "this is EVERYTHING you've missed in my life" kind of blogger. Feedback?

born to run

2011-01-11T14:00:00.000-08:00

On Sundee night I was at my in-laws house and saw this book on the counter. We weren't doing much so I read half of it. I finished it last night and I was relieved that I still knew how to read. Phew.

The book has a couple of main themes; allow me to present them. (Like you have a choice at this point...)

1. If you run, you'll probably get hurt. Doctors, runners and trainers all agree about that. The book suggests that:

This is because of the way we run, jarring our ankles, knees and back.
We run that way because of our extra-cushiony shoes. When shoes were harder, runners stepped more delicately on their feet, thus avoiding injuries.
The more cushiony the shoe, usually the more expensive.
Nike invented running shoes and ruined us all.

2. A lot of people think running is just bad for humans because we weren't built for it. The book suggests that:

Human skeletons have a lot of similarities with running animals (horses, dogs) that walking animals (pigs, for example) don't have.
Maybe we were just meant to run far, not fast.
Early homo sapiens used to run antelope to death before they developed weapons.

3. A lot of people who are good distance runners are really loving and charitable people. Love may be another key factor in running without injury.

As for someone who loves to run but is still not an athlete, I felt little sparks of truth interspersed throughout the book. You have to have good form to be good at most things, so it's understandable that running would be the same. I also really liked it when he brought up the fact that you can't just run to get it over with to get skinny or rich (for pros), but in order to really benefit from running, you just have to love the moment. If you want to like to run but don't, I would recommend the book. I would recommend it anyway, actually.

Who's sick of my Harry Potter posts yet?

2011-01-10T14:44:00.001-08:00

Everyone?

Sorry.

But look what I got at the library today!

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find them by Newt Scamander and Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp!

Yeah I'm supposed to be reading for class and cleaning and feeding my kids and all that. Yeah yeah yeah.

I feel sad today

2011-01-07T10:38:00.000-08:00

Well the boys had a friend over yesterday all day and kept pretty well occupied, so aside from feeding them and changing Asher's diapers (we did get out the park at one point when I felt like negligent Mama) I didn't have to do much more than read about 650 pages I had remaining in this final book (and I've got the messy house to prove it!):

and probably since I read it all in one day basically, I got a little impatient with the Gringotts section and some other despairing chapter here and there, but if we didn't have the bitter the sweet wouldn't be as.... sweet. Right?

Spoiler alert: I wanted to SEE Ginny and Harry's reunion in the end and not just assume it happened because years later they had three kids. I have the same complaint with The Hunger Games, which isn't giving anything away if you haven't read those because you know she ends up with someone, but you don't know who til the end and that author does the same epilogue kind of clean sweep ending: by the way we have been married for years and have kids.... after all that?! You're not going to describe the moment in which you ran into each other's arms and declared your undying love and devotion once and for all. That's just the sappy Twilight reader in me though. But is it? Did anyone else wish to see more of a reuniting of Harry and Ginny in the end?

Speaking of Stephenie Meyer. I think she is a much better writer than nay-sayers give her credit for. She obviously writes in an engaging enough manner to captivate millions of readers through page-turning storytelling.... but.... after reading the entire Harry Potter series now it is quite clear to me that JK Rowling blows Meyer out of the water. I mean, just the delicious names she comes up with for all her many characters alone set her apart. And wouldn't it be exhausting to know that you have several books ahead of you that, all, must contain hidden surprises and shockers and reveal things that don't get solved until later?

Anyway, I feel sad today that it is all over for me. I don't really re-read books, but maybe some time I will re-read these because as dorky as this sounds (but I have a feeling all my friends here completely understand) I feel like I have lost some friends now that I am done because I have spent so much time with Harry, Hermione, the Weasleys, Nelville... etc.

Ok, I am typing like a madwoman now since Ambrose is asking me to make Christmas colored paper airplanes (??) and do something with them that makes no sense so I better go solve that mystery with my real best buddies Asher and Ambeast.

But, thanks for inspiring me to finish the series and listening to me gush and exclaim all along the way. We have all the movies lined up on our Netflix queue so I guess I am not done yet. I am excited!

no, i haven't read a book, but...

2011-01-06T12:07:00.000-08:00

I checked out the Masterpiece Theatre website last night to see what was coming up for their 2011 season. Downton Abbey is airing this month and looks interesting, to me at least. You can read the synopsis on the website. The first part will be aired this Sunday the 9th. I plan on watching it online when the wee ones give me the chance. I hope you enjoy it too!

Here is a preview for all you lovely ladies to enjoy...

Watch the full episode. See more Masterpiece.

oh my gosh you guys

2011-01-03T00:51:00.000-08:00

I don't want to give too much away for those who haven't read YET because you guys totally totally should, but....

Thomas had to console me because I cried as I finished this one.

And I want to kill him:

dirty, nasty, jerk-faced, traitor jerk!

Harry has so much to do now and without Ginny! I am dreading the next book because it doesn't seem like the fun and charming magic of Hogwarts will be in there much. And not much Ginny? And of course he has to face Voldemort. I am dreading it.

Thanks for listening. I will stop hijacking this blog with my Harry Potter exclamations someday. I promise.

What I did over my Christmas vacation:

2010-12-27T18:58:00.001-08:00

Whew, that was a good one!

Unfortunately, I think I have to wait until Spring to dig into No.6 since my semester starts next week and my family can't sustain any more neglect over the holidays. It's kind of nice to spread it out though- won't go by too fast and gives me something to look forward to.

Did I mention that I just looked online and noticed the Department Chair has a son that is in my new class..... the class I will be learning how to teach as I go.... excuse me, I feel sick. The lightening bolt scar on my forehead burns and flares up every time I think about it.

Ok, in all fairness, the Dept Chair is super nice and helpful, but still the smartest man alive and now his son is in my class. HIS SON IS IN MY CLASS!!!!!!!

Ok bye. I need to go lie down. But hooray for Harry P!

i read a lot

2010-12-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

less than I used to.

Right now I'm reading this awesome ancient manuscript that a modern prophet found and translated in the 19th century. Awesome, right? However, I know how it ends because I've read it like twenty times.

My dad always asks me, "What are you reading?" when we talk. I used to love to read. I used to always be reading something.

I'm not reading anything, and I wish I was.

Merry Christmas. Maybe Santa will bring me a book and I'll actually read it, as opposed to the book he brought me two years ago which would like to read but which I still haven't read. Darn.

What are you guys reading, or doing instead of reading?

oh yeah! hey guys! wait! i forgot to tell you!

2010-11-28T22:45:00.000-08:00

(Read this breathlessly and excitedly): Last weekend, while I was laying down so much, I read this book!!!!!

And it should come as no surprise but it was so fun to read and completely fabulous.

And I always want to drink something warm and eat some European chocolate with rich, creamy caramel and perhaps a good, thick, wintry stew while reading Harry Potter. Always.

I plan to read No. 5 over Christmas vacation! My poor family doesn't even know what neglect they're in for.

On a less breathless, but still-excited-for-some-reason note... I saw this at the checkout when I was at Target yesterday:

Very Twiggy, 1960s. I wish I had the face shape for such styles. She's a dream.

hooray!

2010-11-21T23:12:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Star and baby Elodie!

What a fabulous name!

babies

2010-11-17T12:39:00.000-08:00

Have any of you guys seen Babies? What did you think? I've been watching it while I nurse (how appropriate, I know). For me it's kind of weird: boring but awesome, pointless but lovely. So far I like the Mongolian baby's big brother the best.

In the same boat as me?

2010-11-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

Anyone else re-reading this in anticipation of Nov. 19?

Anybody else already get their babysitter lined up so they can see the movie in celebration of their anniversary?

boyohboyohboyohboy

This movie had better not suck (like certain other HP films...)

by my count

2010-10-05T17:19:00.001-07:00

We might have enough for a whole new book club around here.

look look look!!!!!

2010-10-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

you probably already saw but LOOK!

way to go petersons!

and i thought this was exciting:

i mean, it is, but still! woohoo for the newest babe!

my blankity blank class: suggestions please

2010-10-01T01:42:00.001-07:00

I'm really excited to teach novels and plays next semester but really not excited that I pretty much have to have them all chosen by tomorrow.

I think I might get an extension though so HELP!

Theme: Coming of Age (since all the kids in my class are, in fact, coming of age and also those types of novels lend themselves to strong and relatable struggles and themes of personal growth...etc.)

I can only think of one play for it though- The Crucible.

It is OK to have one play out of the 5-6 works, but is there a more obvious choice friends?

Here are the novels I am thinking of and in this order:

1. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
2. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
3. _____________ (something I LOVE here- but that is still respectable... does Little Women fit into that category? I want something fun and not too long. I like The Bell Jar a lot, but it's dark. Too dark? Also, I was thinking My Antonia, but I am worried about the pace being too slow for people who are probably not going to read anything that doesn't resemble facebook or People magazine....)
4. My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
5. The Crucible will go here unless you can think of a better play
6. *bonus read because it is not an actual novel per se: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

I like the course so far, but I don't love it and I really want to love it.

My original course was:
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn- Betty Smith
The House on Mango Street- Sandra Cisneros
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- Mark Twain
The Crucible- Arthur Miller

but it was all basically stuff anyone and everyone has probably read in high school and although there can be a few repeats... it shouldn't all be repeated high school reading. I would love to do A Tree Grows In Brooklyn since it is so quintesential for the theme... but it's 430 pgs or something like that and I am thinking of the a few possible Senior ESL students who have never read a book in their lives and avoided this class until their senior year.... I don't know My Name is Asher Lev is long. I'm not sure I want to have TWO super long ones......

Anyone made it through all this blah blah blah

HELP!

I have searched this blog over and over and thought, MAYBE? YES? NO? I wish I had you all in front of me to map this out, because I am starting to second guess myself too much. Yuck.

Suggestions please.

Note* I wanted to do Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close but it's been a while and correct me if I'm wrong: smattering of F words and sexuality no? I'm too new a teacher to be "controversial" and dontcha just know there will be some students who will see that and use it as an excuse not to read the whole novel? Thoughts.

french / fat / and stuff

2010-09-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

I decided to read this week, since I have nothing better to do (besides wait, of course). I was looking for a Julia Child book at our puny but adorable library, but they didn't have it. Instead they had French Women Don't Get Fat, and I thought it was funny to read a book about losing weight when I'm 1. huge and 2. about to lose like 7 pounds in one day, someday soon. Or something. Right?

The concept of the book is one I am in favor of: Don't diet, don't deprive yourself, don't disparage your body. Instead, eat real food, be moderate in your consumption, know what you like, and don't be lazy. I think that's a pretty good recipe for being healthy, and one that honestly a lot of my fellowwomen don't believe. It used to (woot.) make me so sad at work to hear the other girls talk about their new extreme diet or the new scheme to lose more weight than each other and the impossibility of maintaining their weight. And it's not as though I'm an expert at maintaining a healthy weight, but I do well enough for myself and keep my standards low.

Of course I didn't love everything about the book, but since it hung on a concept I already believe, I liked it well enough. I got a little weary of the little French words thrown in every page or so, but the lady is French after all, so I can't really blame her. I'm not one of those people who are totally enamored of all things French, so her suggestion that French women are just like this because they're French seems a little silly to me as well. The author, Mireille Guiliano, is also opposed to formal exercise, which I'm really really not opposed to (I can not wait to go for a run, oh belly), but she's in favor of walking all of the time everywhere. Sadly, that's rather impossible even for small town me, but I do think walking when you can is important, which is why I always walk to church (about 3/4--or 2/3--of a block from my house) and everyone thinks it's so funny when I turn down their offers for a ride home. Oh silly.

Anyway, I don't think the book is so revolutionary in this circle, but it certainly would be for some people. I appreciate a book that encourages a better relationship with food than most girls (I guess we're women now...) have.

End.

dude

2010-09-23T00:16:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love how i decide to put something literary on my blog and i get nothin. Well, diana you aren't nothin, but ha!

Lesson learned- stick to your own nerdy kind.

I love you guys.

Anyone else love Eats, Shoots & Leaves?

i thought the picture of my belly was funny for about six minutes

2010-09-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy my replacement until someone posts something. Merci beaucoup.

a call for entries

2010-09-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

me, ready to feed my baby in my new glider--but something's missing. where's that baby?!

Oh hey guys.
Yeah, it's me again.
Did any of you think we had successfully transitioned this blog back to its intended purpose?
Sorry.

Actually, I just need your advice again. Remember how helpful you were with my car seat question? I do, thanks. Would you mind sharing with me some things that...uh...babies need?

I made a list based on a bit of common sense (a bit) and Design Mom's and some other bloggers' lists of baby necessities. But frankly, most of their necessities don't seem so necessary. My glider, for example, is not necessary but totally cool. My jogging stroller, same. My baby carrier, same.

I'm good on blankets; I've got about 10 burp cloths; I bought some long sleevie onesies since it was 50 degrees here today; I've got socks. I know babies need diapers. I'm hoping to totally breastfeed, and I wonder if I need a little manual pump? Do I? Poor Munchkin Man has very few clothes (basically just what you all & my family has given me), but when I went to buy some pjs today I was very unimpressed with the options. How many/much clothing does an infant need anyway?

Anyway, since we're hopefully moving in October, I don't want to buy everything in existence, so just tell me what I'll need for really reals. (I'm hoping you say I don't need anything, but I'm doubtful, which is the reason for this panicapost.)

I love you and hope to be awesome like you someday.
Peace out.
xxooM

i read a story in a book

2010-09-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Adventure of the Naval Treaty, a Sherlock Holmes mystery.

Have you noticed that I only read books/stories with the words "Mystery," "Adventure," or "Caper" in the title? I think this may have something to do with what Diana said in the comments of the last post (ahem, "all growing up, my mom was an avid reader----of romance novels. and she's a bright woman. but i can get it now, i can't take anything too real life. in fact,i recently discovered that hallmark movies are the perfect kinds for me. predictable, clean and happy endings.")

Nate P. is actually reading through more of the giant Sherlock Holmes collection we have, and I keep getting jealous when he tells me about good stories. This is one he recommended, and I second it. It's fun-funny to see how Holmes comes to his conclusions, and how they really are logical, but usually just one of a million possibilities. Apparently, sometimes he's wrong. I'm going to read one of those next.

PS Don't read that Wikipedia article unless you want to basically read the entire story without the funny 1893 language. Someone likes to be very thorough.

i read a book

2010-08-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

My mom handed it to me when we got to Las Vegas and I really couldn't put it down once I decided to read it. It gets a bit much in the middle, because you are thinking, "oh my gosh, ok, ok, I get it. You guys were super dysfunctional..." (and you mostly think this due to the sheer shock of it and not because the author is overstating a point) but aside from just being a highly interesting story it made me want to do and be more.

The author's family truly made her who she is today and not the way you would think most families would. You'll see what I mean if you read the book. I highly recommend it.

Happy Booday (yep, I really did that)

2010-08-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hey look. I am remembering a birthday. Hooray for me! Wait, that's not the point of this post... I mean hooray for Boo on her birthday! I love her dearly, as I know you all do too. She is such a kinda, humble friend. So quick to appreciate others. We are all so lucky to have a friend like her.

For me personally Becca changed/shaped my last years of college and the last few years of my life. She influenced my style, my taste in music and was the reason I got to meet any and all of you. She helped me get my personality back after being sick (totally uninentionally and probably never meant for it to come back this much.)Basically, she has just changed my whole dang life. Picked me up right when I needed it most. Becca, you have no idea how much I needed a friend like you in college. This is already sounding like a love letter (sorry about that) but just to take it one sappy, almost creepy, step further I really don't think anyone else would have influenced and helped me as much as you. I didn't need a friend like you I really just needed you as a friend. I am glad you found me. I love you a million times over Boo, happy birthday!

hey, anyone

2010-08-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has an opinion--whether you're a mom or not--will you tell me what you think?

My aunties are generously getting pumpkin seed a carseat. They asked me to choose from a nice selection, and my question is this: Should we get a convertible infant/toddler seat or just an infant seat?

Eh? What do you think? Please?

gushy gushy

2010-08-15T01:02:00.001-07:00

see for yourself why dontcha.

do you like how we awkwardly have two headers?

2010-08-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to take the old one off because I like it so much, but I thought this little ditty that Thomas made was cool so we get two for now.

All awkwardly stacked.

I'll take the new one down after we've all cooled down from the hot visit.

i might not have been at the big bash, but i've been reading

2010-08-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

Remember the new Masterpiece Theatre production of Emma? Watching that made me want to re-read the novel. It's been a good five plus years since I first read it. Of course, I loved it, but I also appreciated it all the more this time around. It took me a long four months (basically the first trimester of this pregnancy) to finish it, but I enjoyed it. I also really, really like Mr. Knightley all the more. If I could, I'd name a son Knightley, but it just doesn't work with our last name. Haha!

The second book I read recently is Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. I have such mixed feelings on this one. I loved the way Flaubert describes human emotion. While the language and descriptions are captivating and detailed, the overall plot is, um... well... made me feel like I was reading a really well written romance novel. At times I was embarrassed by how much I was sucked in to the story. I also considered not finishing it, but I just couldn't put it down. I guess that means it was a good one. There are a ton of details that all come together with significance in the end. In many ways, the story is timeless and could have been written today.

I'm now onto a third book. I'm re-reading Mansfield Park. You know how I mentioned I would name a son Knightley? Well, I may just be naming a son Edmund, if this baby of mine is a boy that is. I wanted to re-read the novel to really examine the character of Edmund since it is the name we have picked. I'm just starting the second volume and I must admit that I like Edmund more than I remember. I always thought he was dumb for missing the obvious... but now I see he is a much more thoughtful and considerate man than I recall. We will just have to wait until Thanksgiving to see if Edmund shows up!

Because we love her, that's why!

2010-08-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

(shamelessly stolen from her blog)

Man, is it just me, or are we all feeling super guilty about missing Melissa's birthday?!?

Maybe it's because we just had a party for her, but I just overlooked wishing her a big HAPPY DAY to her. For those of you who missed our little event, we all shared at least one thing we like about Mellie P.

Here are some ideas we discussed:

Her amazing creativity and ability to make something amazing out of just about anything.

Her desire and near ability to live in another time.

Her lovely, effortless elegance.

The way she uses this elegance to convey her intelligence.

Her wonderful sensibility (she's not CHEAP, she's sensible).

Knowing that she will be such an amazing mother to little pumpkin seed.

She's just so cool!

So, what do you like about Mellie P? I bet we could come up with a million reasons! And then she might forgive us (mostly me) for being the worst at recognizing her!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Thanks for letting us be part of this cool club!

let's be onto stephanie posting some of her and thomas's pictures

2010-07-26T15:32:00.000-07:00

A couple more pictures on my blog, but come on. We need some quality here because this was a quality get-together.
(And we talked in detail about how we missed those of you who couldn't come.)

xxooM

are we honestly meeting up this weekend??!?

2010-07-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

oh my goodness hooray!!!!

change of venue: diana's house because, no offense ash smash, but there is more for the children to do at the palmerias. although ashley's house is bomb diggity. stop by sometime.

come over at 3PM.

to dianas.

if you don't know where that is call me.

if you don't know my phone number ask melissa or becca cuz they do.

if you think my lack of punctuation and short sentences indicate my level of excitement on this subject: YOU ARE WRONG!!!!!!!

I'M OVER THE MOON WITH EXCITEMENT!!!

and diana and i (like how i slipped back into that? does slipped have two p's? seems odd.) talked about how it was all gonna be today and we're pumped.

hold the phone, diana the photog says, "don't quote me verbatim. make me sound cooler. tell everyone to take lots of pictures so we can have lots of pictures of each other to blog." (like how i did that too? i mixed up the order of the sentences so i would be obedient- heh heh.)

i really like that idea.

ana and i are making cafe rio pork and rice. please bring a dessert or side dish to share. ashley, you got drinks and paper products, cuz i can boss you around because you have to love me.

I'M SO EXCITED DEAR DEAR CLOSE TO MY HEART I LOVE YOU SO MUCH FRIENDS!

star, carrie, abby- come anyway. abby, you live here right? COME!

star- look up last minute deals.

carrie- COME ON PLEASE!!!!

ok, ok, can't wait. SEE YOU SOON FOR REALS.

was this blog orignially indended for book discussions? whatever, let's be onto lookalikes

2010-07-02T11:02:00.001-07:00

Is it just me, or does the adorable Bitty look like the adorable Emersonmade chicky?
(Thanks for the unpermissioned photo, Boo.)
This Emersonmade chicky has recently been mentioned on several other blogs, but I have thought this since I first heard of her, probably a year or so ago.
And now I present the lookalike:

Both are overly adorable, and to overuse the word adorable is not something I'm normally onto. But it's just a fact here.

PS I love the Emersonmade blog and the utter nonsense she writes.
PPS I really want to wear a skirt with a WAIST and pockets again.

it's gonna be bomb diggity

2010-06-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

It's a honestly on to reunion and Melissa Peterson baby shower all day hang-out extravaganza!!!!!

AND YOU ARE INVITED!

Date: Sunday July 25, 2010
Time: All day! Well like 1PM or whenever your church is done until you leave
Place: The Ben and Ashley Jones house
(I don't have this new address so email me your phone number if I don't already have it and I will text or call this info out)

Becca and I were thinking it would be fun to bring handmade gifts for Martha and her new babe, but if you are not the handmade type - bring whatever!

Ashley said she has enough space in her new house for babies to nap in since we will be together all day so bring a pack-n-play and plan on being there just as long as you possibly can because I'm greedy like that and want you to myself!

And can you believe we forgot to announce this on here! CONGRATS TO DIANA and BABY SHILOH!

What a beautiful crowd of people!

I say we make this a party for Shiloh, Lincoln, and Penelope too because we can!! :)

So who can come? We can start planning food and whatnot once we know how many people are coming.

I'M SO SO EXCITED!!

ashley jones!

2010-06-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

i know this won't be as exciting for you as it was for me, but it seems that penelope and lincoln have been hanging out on the same couch lately. or at least different copies of the same couch.

your jones baby

mine jones baby

i think it's further proof that the two critters are meant to be good pals. think about it: birthdays one day apart. same last name. same couch. it's a sign.

also, though it really is a fine couch, i can't wait until i can buy my own couch when we get our own place soon. and i am super excited to see your new place soon.

p.s. hello everyone else. we may continue being onto your things now.

Joy in the Morning

2010-06-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

I bought this book a few months ago (Mellie recommended it. I can't remember when, maybe on here... Anyway, at some point in our friendship she told me to read it). Yesterday I picked it up an started reading. It was a delight to read and had a sweet love story. In fact I picked it yesterday and read it straight through. It wasn't necessarily the kind of book that one reads straight through but I did. It wasn't because it's the kind of book that sucks you in it was just so nice to read again; nice to read a good book. I don't really know what to say about this book, maybe because I stayed up late reading. It's about love conquering all but not in romanticized dramatic way; in a very real, simple way. The story is sweat. About love, marriage, being poor, and enjoying learning. Who can't relate to at least one of those? Worth the read.

mates

2010-05-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

Bytheway I'm buying myself a ticket tonight to the Salt Lake Mates of State show that's on June 28. Does anyone want to come?

saying goodbye

2010-05-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

I recently got attacked by the "I have to get rid of all clutter NOW bug" and ended up going through a ton of stuff. One thing that I have hung on to has been a bunch of flashcards I made my last year or so of college. (Recognize these Stephanie?) I used these cards to help me memorize and be able to identify passages on tests. I hated that our tests were just "name this passage" and explain it's "significance," but they were and I just had to make do. Flashcards worked for me. I had the author on one side and on the other I had the title of a poem/essay/novel, key unique passages and images, and something about it's significance. I've hung on to these cards because they remind me of the literature nerd I was/am. I've also thought I could use them if I go back to school and need to refresh my memory. However, yesterday I pulled them out and decided it was time to say goodbye. Goodbye to that phase of my life. I don't need flashcards and tests to be a literature nerd. The best part is that I can read whatever I want and just enjoy it. And I am. I'm currently reading Jane Austen's Emma, nice and slow, and loving it. Besides, who needs that extra clutter?

And now the smell of poop, the sound of a little boy turning the light on and off while jumping around in his bed, and a little voice saying, "mommy!" calls me away. Goodbye flashcards. Hello motherhood.

i'm reading very slowly

2010-05-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

My sweet husband gave me a 1937 edition of The Whispering Statue for our anniversary. That would make it a first edition, folks. The cover doesn't look like this, though, or like any cover I've seen in my online browsing. Interesting. I'm only about halfway through, and Nate was really puzzled as to why I'm not finished yet. Is it longer than normal Nancy Drews? Have I forgotten how to read? I'm just taking it slow.

I'm also reading my other favorite book, which Nate also gave me for our anniversary, which we have discussed before and I'm only on page 8 so nothing new here.

And last but not least, I'm reading Moving in His Majesty and Power by Neal A Maxwell, which is a very lovely, small book. I'm also reading it extraordinarily slow.

I don't usually read three books at once, and I don't usually read slowly. I'm just trying new things. Also, I don't want to finish any three of them so I'm just stretching them out. Do you usually read fast or slow?

Let's Be on to Playlists

2010-05-02T20:41:00.000-07:00

I used to have some really great playlists but now I have to remake them. A while ago I lost most of the music on my computer and then recently lost my iPod too. I just got a new iPod and I am desperate to recreate the magic I once knew. Please help. What are your favorite playlists and mixes? My favorite one was called Bathtub mix I am trying to recreate it as well as a new break-up mix (however, seeing as I am not 15 I am not looking to have an angry Avril Lavigne style mix. This new mix will be called Twin Sized Bed after the Death Cab for Cutie song, and I hope it will express the same funny/kinda bummery sentiment). I also could use a good work-out mix and/or cooking mix...you get the idea.

Help!

because i like to plan and worry

2010-04-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

I've added a poll to the sidebar. When should we get together?

I know Sunday night might be the most inconvenient for you, Steph, since you said it would be grandparents' visiting day, but I'm 99.99% I can't talk Nate into taking Monday or Tuesday off of work (with all his other time off already planned this summer), so that might be best for us. I'm going to vote it. But I, myself, alone will come any time.

But let me tell you, you really want to meet Nate.

Just kidding. Vote for whatever's best for you and yours.

yaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!

2010-04-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Look at someone's new babe.

speaking of music

2010-04-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

Free Mates of State cover of a song called "Laura" here. Has anyone ever heard of the original? It's by a group called Girls. MoS (as the cool kids call them) is releasing a cover album this summer. Party background music, perhaps?

(Already got it, Steph?)

help

2010-04-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

why can't i comment on the music post melissa put up? i used to think it was just something weird with my home computer

and then i tried it on my computer at work and still no luck so i thought it was a mistake blogger was working out

and now i just think somethings up

i want to see what you wrote!

and maybe write something too!

ok!!!

ok.

a new discussion

2010-03-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

Hello, friends. Shall we help one another? Or better yet, maybe you should just help me.

Music.

I need some.

Could you please tell me the name of at least one song that I don't have that I should have? Any type, any genre.

I'm serious. I've been feeling like I probably don't even like music much anymore, preferring to drive in silence rather than listen to the same six cds in my car. But then I started listening to more Pedro the Lion, and although that band is seriously underrepresented on youtube (hence the terrible video below) and is apparently now defunct, I bought two of their songs on Monday and have been feeling a little more musically inclined.

Yes, this is trivial, but if you have a song for me, please list it in the comments. And if you don't have a song for me, you probably actually do, so think harder! (Please.)

Merci beaucoup.

xxoom

is it still written on your arm in red pen?

2010-03-15T01:06:00.000-07:00

Ok lovies! We booked our flight finally and after much shifting, angst, and trepidation we have decided we can be in Utah the last week in July (well some of it that is) and so that puts me in arms reach of hopefully many of you on either:

Monday 7/26 or Tuesday 7/27....

eek! I know that is NOT the weekend and that makes things slightly or significantly more inconvenient for a visit. AH! I know, I know, I know.

BUT! There is no other way unless you want to meet Sunday night at my grandmas or Diana's in-laws or something for a dinner we make ourselves and I am open to that option as well.

We arrive in Utah Saturday, but I think it might be later and Sunday day will undoubtedly be reserved for Thomas' grandma in Layton so we could swing:

1. Sunday night hang-out and cook food or just dessert and hang-out at my Grandmas in Provo or if she is home and not well maybe Diana's in-laws down the street from my grandmas

or

2. Monday day or night 7/26 Wherever we want

or

3. Tuesday day or night 7/27 Wherever we want

Whatcha think?

PS- I AM SO FREEEEEEAKING EXCITED!!!!!

look what i checked out from the library...

2010-03-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

... thank you Carrie! So far, so good!

tess of the d'urbervilles

2010-03-05T09:49:00.001-08:00

I just finished reading Tess of the d'Urbervilles and I absolutely LOVED it!

It is one of the best constructed novels I've ever read. Everything is significant and conveys the mood. The descriptions of the land are detailed, but interesting. The characters are so well written that you feel as if you are part of Tess. The storyline is complex and what you thought was no-big-deal earlier in the novel is suddenly important later on. I became engrossed in the story and had many late night reading sessions. During the day, I longed for moments to read. The novel conveys such emotion, anguish, despair, sorrow, joy, devotion, suffering, love... I could go on and on. And lastly, I like how it ended. So there you have it.

Now, has anyone seen the movie? One was released in 1998 and one in 2008? I plan to borrow them from the library. Any thoughts?

these days

2010-02-24T09:52:00.000-08:00

I've been reading books like Manitou and Providence, Violence Over the Land, and Technical Editing. I'm supposed to have been also reading Cherokee Women, The Global English Style Guide, and Wisdom Sits in Places but there is really a limit to how much of this frightful reading I can take before I lose my marbles, and I'm quickly approaching it.

Yeah, yikes. I'm not even halfway through the semester. This was a dumb idea.

Is anyone up to reading anything better? (Better = fun, interesting, enlightening, etc.)

and now here he is!

2010-02-18T15:12:00.001-08:00

Lincoln Ben Jones!

Lincoln Ben Jones + Penelope Ann Jones = Love (No relation I assure you. Just a very common, yet awesome last name)

HIP HIP HOORAY!!!

and here she is!

2010-02-17T10:09:00.001-08:00

and can i just say that i am in love with her name too?

so so great!

and also, happy thoughts to ashley as she is huffing and puffing her way through an induction right now for her sweet baby boy.

we are definitely up to something around here!

let's give a hearty welcome to penelope!

2010-02-17T07:27:00.000-08:00

Let's be onto congratulating Becca on her healthy baby girl, born yesterday (February 16)!

Becca: Please publicly gush about her when you catch your breath.

xxoo

my antonia

2010-02-09T16:30:00.000-08:00

I recently finished reading Willa Cather's My Antonia. This was my first time reading anything by Cather.

To sum it up, it was lovely.

The descriptions of the land and scenery were perhaps my favorite part of the book. They truly painted a picture with words.

It was about people and they felt real. I could relate to the characters. I came to know the characters.

It moved slow, but still kept my interest. Who would have thought that Nebraska would interest me so much?

Of all the chapters or parts, I liked the first one about the Shimerdas the best. Life on the farm fascinated me. I loved the descriptions of the open prairie, the simplicity and freedom.

I like that Jim Burden tells the story, but it isn't really about him all that much. In the end, I felt like I didn't know as much about him as I did about the other characters.

It felt real. The struggles, the triumphs, the sorrow, they were real.

The book moved along in ways that I didn't really expect.

It's about good people who watch out for each other. I admire Jim's grandparents. They had such genuine hearts. I liked that.

It wasn't a completely "feel good" kind of book. There were complex issues of suicide, sexuality, etc.

Overall, a good read. Well worth the time.

in the spirit of february

2010-02-05T22:54:00.001-08:00

i got reading the comments...etc. on this here blog tonight and man

i really like you guys. ah, soulmates.

Emma again

2010-02-05T07:24:00.000-08:00

I have never seen the Emma with Kate Beckinsale, have you? (I didn't know that was how her last name was spelled, either, did you?) I do love all of the other Emmas (including the real Emma), and I'm really excited for the conclusion of the Masterpiece Theater version Star told us about, which I'll be watching on Monday on my computer because I can't figure out how to watch tv anymore.

This version actually had to grow on me a little. At first I thought Emma was a little too immature or something, but now I think she's wonderful. The recurring line that our host Laura Linney keeps repeating is that Jane Austen said Emma was a heroine that nobody else would much like. Totally untrue. Here are five reasons that I like her:

1. She is not love-stricken or anything stricken. She is happy with her life at the beginning.
2. She doesn't wear a corset. (None of Austen's girls really do, but this time I have been really interested in the style of the times. It will always be a comfortable, flattering way to wear long dresses. I say, if we had to start wear long dresses all of the time, we would be smart to follow Regency guidelines.)
3. Her Mr. Knightly is her friend.
4. She's funny.
5. She changes for the better.

And in this version it seems really poignant that she's never been anywhere. Ever. Not even London. It's really endearing for some reason. So make that #6.

styles new intern

2010-02-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

today i went and checked the twitter comments again for some reason and saw a new comment from this same person who mysteriously commented on my blog recently.

now i know how they found my blog, but how did they find this blog?

and who are they?

at least they comment something relevant to the post.

i've certainly gotten worse.

welp. see ya later!

the elegance of the hedgehog

2010-01-27T08:04:00.000-08:00

Well, as usual I wish to discuss this book, but I find I am completely intimidated by my far more scholarly friends. I will keep this short and simple and hope that one of you have already read it and have something wonderful to share.

First: this book is crazy slow getting started. I read the first chapter about Marx and I was like, "Oh baby, now I have to read this so I don't look completely dumb, but really now... not sure how this is going to work out." And the book basically proceeded in this fashion for many many pages. I find I'm not really all that interested in pontificating on the "point" of art, or humanity, or government, etc. So the first part of the book was a little dense for me. But I'm not feeling particularly prone to insightfulness these days either. Let's blame it on pregnant brain, shall we?

Second: I did very much love the characters in this book. And any book set in France= I love. I was amazed at the believability of the 12 year old genius, and although a little annoyed at the concierge's (the other main character) preoccupation with class, I did love her too. This gets more understandable later in the book, anyway. I was interested in the notion that everyone is hiding things behind their exteriors (as the characters in the book are), which I really find to be true in life.

Third: Paloma's profound thought no. 15 probably made the whole book worth it for me. Some of you might know that I am the Young Women president in my ward, and you may also know that this calling has been one struggle after another for me. These girls are not cut from the same fabric as I was, or really from the same fabric of anyone else I've ever known. Their stories are just that for me; stories I heard about growing up, but never actually knew anyone who really dealt with things as hard as they are. Consequently, I have tried with all my might to connect to these girls, but have continuously been thwarted in my efforts or have fallen short somehow. And it's not all bad, but there have certainly been times where I felt so inadequate that I've wanted to resign my post in the hope that someone else could do a better job than I. Anyway. Here is the quote that struck me most from the whole book;

"I understood that I was suffering because I couldn't make anyone else around me feel better. I understood that I have a grudge against [these people] because I'm incapable of being useful to them, because there's nothing I can do for them. They are already too far gone in their sickness and I am too weak. I can see their symptoms clearly but I'm not skilled to treat them..."

I love being able to relate to a book, and although it took a while, I did relate to this book. In summary: not my favorite book but incredibly well written and overall enjoyable. I recommend it.

the tweet's out of the bag

2010-01-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

Just because I've been blogging for 4 1/2 years doesn't mean I know anything about the interweb world of social networking. Quite the opposite rather. I don't even know exactly what a google reader is and how it works and why you would want to use it. (I'm to scared to try.)

Diana, one of our resident never-posters (that list pretty much includes everyone except me, who obviously has too much time on her hands) seems to have it all figured out, on the other hand. I just sneakily found her twitter tweeter mctweets . I don't understand all of this stuff, but I'm so glad Diana has it figured out so her photography can become as renowned as it deserves. Follow her if you dare (and know how).

Also, do any of you guys twitter or do anything else I should know about?

xxoom

masterpiece theatre

2010-01-16T13:59:00.000-08:00

I love Masterpiece Theatre.

I'm not always in the loop with the productions being aired since we don't have TV in our home, but they now let you watch the films online for a limited time. Here is the link to the website if you are interested in watching.

I just enjoyed watching Return to Cranford based on the writings of Elizabeth Gaskell. I loved Cranford and Return to Cranford was good too. I loved how Cranford artfully mixed tragedy with domestic triumph. It made me laugh like crazy and wipe tears from my cheeks. (Even the hubby teared up!) It was fun to see more of the characters and how their lives change. One thing I didn't like was how rushed it felt. There wasn't enough time to enjoy the triumphs. It felt like there was tragedy after tragedy. There was also no mention of some of the original characters. Overall, though, it was great fun and warranted staying up to 1 in the morning watching it with the hubby.

Next up on Masterpiece Theatre is...

EMMA!

I'm excited. You can watch the preview HERE. It airs 24 January through 7 February. I'll be watching it online. Want to watch with me?

i capture the castle

2010-01-14T15:58:00.000-08:00

You guys. YOU GUYS! Have you read this book? I haven't a clever thing to say about it but I LOVE IT! I told my hubs last night that this is the first book I could justify purchasing as a first edition.

To sum up (horribly): It was clever, and romantic, and silly, and English, and did I say romantic? And I don't mean romantic in the lovey relationship sense, but in the castle, and the scenery and the dresses and the countryside. Sigh. I want to live in this book.

So maybe you should think about reading it. Or commenting if you have already read it. Oh and it's ok if you don't love it as much as I did. But I'd be surprised if you didn't at least enjoy it.

Plus there's a movie so I'm off to see about that in my Netflix cue.

Edit: The movie is right out for me, but if anyone else has enjoyed do share.

the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime on the way to north carolina

2010-01-04T07:54:00.000-08:00

Intro:

I am by no means a frequent flyer, but I must admit that I find flying supremely uncomfortable. On our most recent delay-ridden escapade to the southeast, I brought along Nate's library book (which he had finished; he was reading Sherlock Holmes--and is not impressed by the movie's trailers because the real Sherlock Holmes manages his genius withOUT action, not PACKED with action, but anyway). I finished it before we even caught our connection out of Dallas.

In sum:

It seems to belong to the epanding genre of "kids who are a little too curious for their own good, have at least one quirk that separates them from normal kids, solve a mystery by making some kind of journey, and become friends with an elderly person," which is great, because I like all of those things. (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close & The History of Love are also this genre.)

The detracting:

The swearing, of course, but they're British. (Which is what Nate said when he handed it over to me.) Now you can't be surprised. Also detracting was the main character (Christoper) 's mother, who I ended up not feeling very pleasant about. But since the book is in first person from Christopher's point of view there is probably a lot more to her than what he sees, so maybe she's ok; you'll have to see for yourself. And last but not least is that when the book is finished you don't really feel like you've gotten anywhere (despite the solved mystery). Now you can't be surprised.

The winning:

The voice, the tone, the characterization of Christopher (who is, did I mention, autistic). He is sweet and very amusing, and I really thought the author did a good job of portraying an autistic personality without condescention. Not that I would know for sure, since I'm not autistic, but it seemed really good. Also, the genre was good by my opinion, as you won't be surprised to find out.

Et viola

But of course I want to know if you've read it/thought about it/heard about it.

shine your shoes for the fat lady

2009-12-29T19:10:00.000-08:00

I read Franny and Zooey recently and to be honest, I have mixed emotions about it. At times I thought it was terrible. In fact, most of the time I struggled with it because I couldn't relate to the characters, a lot of the dialogue was over my head, and there wasn't much of a plot. I had a hard time wanting to keep reading. It was more modern than what I usually read, but I thought I would be adventurous and read something a little different. I left it alone for stretches of time and almost didn't finish it. However, when I did go back to it, each time I found myself somehow sucked in. It was strange. I am glad I finished it because I actually liked how it ended. In fact, I was quite moved by it. Ah yes, "shine your shoes for the fat lady." A good lesson indeed. Any thoughts on this one?

but it felt like reading

2009-12-13T13:16:00.000-08:00

i'll skip the whole bit about aren't you so shocked that i would condescend from my apparently too busy life to contribute something to the fine establishment of let's be onto something.....

i can never remember if its julie and julia or julia and julie, and frankly when i first heard the title of the movie i was wary because i somehow had it in my mind that was julia child may have been a lesbian...and before you find that offensive, its not that i'm homophobic or anything i just was like, oh brother, is this a movie about the secret life of one of our cultural icons? was that whole paragraph only one sentence?

oh brother, this isn't going well at all!

anyway, i just want to say that i couldn't watch this delightful movie without repeatedly exclaiming to martin, "this is my favorite movie already!" he wasn't as into the experience, but nodded supportively, fully absorbed in the task of making yanphoto t-shirts.

and i don't think any of you will be able to wach this movie without wishing you were just a tad more jolly and joyful the way they made julia child's character seem. also, i was rather touched by the love story between julia child and her husband, and what a relief given my intial hesitation! (i'm making fun of myself here).

i did feel as though the ending was slightly abrupt, and a little too perfect, and rather unsatisfying, as though they decided to give us everything we wanted (sans one thing, and you'll see when you watch it) in a hurry so the movie could be done already. but i threw my hands up in the air and forgave them immediately.

lastly i don' cook, and wasn't even able to relate on that level, but i still loved the movie! so if you've seen it, what are you thoughts? and if you haven't, i hope you will. i think we'd all enjoy watching it together.

p.s. meryl streep is an amazing and inspiring actress, the other female lead is refreshingly not hollywood beautiful, and did i mention the words "based on a true story?"

let's be onto something

more downton

for my book lovin' friends

almost here

bicycles: good, bipeds: good, biographies: bad?

inside my library bag

google, technology, hunger games, so so lazy

Oh The Romance of a Penguin

Thank you thank you thank you

Help!

Speaking of Jane Eyre

oh! the veil scene.

The Happiness Project

downton abbey returns

the lemon tree

Betty can relax now.

hungry

electronics

btw diana is the most famous! *updated*

Alright my dear friends,

Rather than write it twice...

It's Me, B: An Explanation

divine secrets of the nostalgia sisterhood

yadda yadda

JULY 9TH

speaking of masterpiece

because i just can't help myself

Best Books of All Time?

to eyre is human

supa lazy

I Have Always Been Fond of Elephants

I know what I'll be reading for the entire summer...

If you are too lazy to read

History, research, architecture, murder. Something for everyone?

in a sunburned country by bill bryson

meh, sadly, meh

look what i stumbled upon the other night

wickedness never was happiness and other thoughts on downton abbey

Attention Crafty People

oh, let's be onto discussing downton abbey

the choir loves to be preached to

I am conflicted.

born to run

Who's sick of my Harry Potter posts yet?

I feel sad today

no, i haven't read a book, but...

oh my gosh you guys

What I did over my Christmas vacation:

i read a lot

oh yeah! hey guys! wait! i forgot to tell you!

hooray!

babies

In the same boat as me?

by my count

look look look!!!!!

my blankity blank class: suggestions please

french / fat / and stuff

dude

i thought the picture of my belly was funny for about six minutes

a call for entries

i read a story in a book

i read a book

Happy Booday (yep, I really did that)

hey, anyone

gushy gushy

do you like how we awkwardly have two headers?

i might not have been at the big bash, but i've been reading

Because we love her, that's why!

let's be onto stephanie posting some of her and thomas's pictures

are we honestly meeting up this weekend??!?

was this blog orignially indended for book discussions? whatever, let's be onto lookalikes

it's gonna be bomb diggity

ashley jones!

Joy in the Morning

mates

saying goodbye

i'm reading very slowly

Let's Be on to Playlists

because i like to plan and worry

yaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!

btw diana is the most famous! updated