So Many Ideas, So Few Pictures

I've had plenty of time to post, just so you know.

I've lost the cords to our camera and phones (and the camera battery) which is a common side effect of moving I believe. So I have not been able to upload pictures. I've come to the realization that everyone wants pictures with the blog post and so I've been avoiding it.

Here are the things I will be blogging about as soon as I find a cord or two (and a battery):
-Our recent (not that recent anymore) trip to the Oregon Coast
-Our recent house sale and move
-Hip, on being two
-Hip, on moving from his beloved home
-Hip, on his big boy bed
-The neighbor(s)--this one's going to surprise you
-Week 20
-Me, on being overly idealistic, polictically, as a book review
-Me, on becoming humble

Aren't you excited?

Mom, This One's For You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFNJLs-Ql0o

When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Reading

I don't smoke, drink, drug, party, club, eat excessively, or watch television often so when life gets challenging I turn to exercise generally. Since I throw up a lot during pregnancy my workouts have gone from approximately 2 hours 4-5 times weekly (~1000 calories) to 70 minutes 4 times weekly (~450 calories). When I contracted a wicked sinus infection AND pink eye last week I halted my workouts, temporarily. It's a good thing I've got a back up plan.

Finishing my 13th book in a month last night I have decided to review them.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan

Book 1: The Lightning Thief

Book 2: The Sea of Monsters

Book 3; The Curse of the Titans

Book 4: The Battle of the Labyrinth

Book 5: The Last Olympian

These are surprisingly good. A few book club members began reading them reporting good things. I dove in when I was confident the series fit my criteria: the series must be complete before I read any of them. There are two things that stand out on my list of why I liked this series: it taught me all I ever wanted to know about Greek mythology without boring me to tears and there is adrenaline pumping action on nearly every single page of each book. My new greek mythology knowledge has already helped me understand many things in regular life/other reading! These books are age appropriate for age 10 and up, anything below parents should know that there is violence and some death. Finally, books 1, 2, and 4 are better than books 3 and 5, which are still entertaining. (The movie "The Lightning Thief" deviates enough from book 1 that it annoyed me).

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

This book is so good it won a pulitzer prize in 1932. The story takes place in China and 'earth' is the subject strain throughout a man's lifetime, being born into poverty and becoming a rich man. I watched this movie, in black and white I believe, when I was a young child and was deeply traumatized. I was not too young to understand the horror of starvation, something you will need to endure to make it through this novel. There is a connection between land ownership and wealth something modernly is applicable though the importance has been lost on most Americans. Ironically I was selling my own parcel of land while reading this book, if you read this book you will understand my heartache.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peal Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

This book is just as delightful as it is fabulous. Set in England's island territory of Guernsey (off France's Northwestern coastline) in WWII aftermath. It is a story, told through witty letters, about courage and the human spirit's ability to survive and cope and heal. It would be selfish for me not to recommend this book to everyone I know (and like). My sister gave it to me to read on my recent trip to Oregon and I couldn't put it down despite pus oozing out of every orifice on my face (so it worked out that I couldn't sleep!). The enjoyment I gleaned from this book equals what learning to love to read was like as a kid.

A Room With a View by E.M. Forster

I am a lover of classic literature. In 1998 I told this to my BYU English 115 teacher, a graduate student, who told me I was a snob! Anyway, this was recommended by my library's classic book list. Imagine Jane Autsen meets L.M. Montgomery. This book is set in early 1900s England/Italy (English in Italy) and is a commentary on class, independent thinking, and humanism (aka human rights). I responded positively to it immediately and loved how slightly the themes were presented. A lesser snob would never have picked up the fact that E.M. Forster was a homosexual, which made me love him and this book even more. I will definitely read more of him in the future.

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

This book was exactly what I needed, set in the Great Depression in Michigan! The book was not so much about Michigan as it was about a 10 year-old boy who has the important things in life already figured out. Bud is an orphan who is on a journey to find his roots. Aren't we all? If you love children and the way they think, simply, you will enjoy this book. It won the Newberry Award in 2000.

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

A short book about dedication and overcoming obstacles with determination. I enjoyed learning about an interesting part of Korea's cultural history as I read the story about Tree-Ear. Tree-Ear learns the fine art of pottery and overcomes many obstacles, with the help of merciful and loving friends, to find his place in the world. Books like this should be on your children's list to read because of the important cultural and humanistic messages; that is, if you want your children to grow up to be good people. It won the Newberry Award in 2002.

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

I loved this book a lot and I highly recommend this as one not to miss out on. The story is actually two parallel stories where the main character gains incredible personal insight, healing, and closure to a personal tragedy through an experience of a friend. In other words, this book is a spiritual metaphor. Though the language of this book is written for tweens, the deeper themes will not be recognizable until older ages. That's okay, it is a book that can be enjoyed by many different types of people and readers. This book won the Newberry Award in 1995.

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

You can read this book in an hour. It is about a drifting orphan in 1200 England who finds herself an unconventional home and occupation. I found it interesting because I am indeed pregnant but it was also a simple commentary on caregiving (of oneself and of others). Anyone who loves others will enjoy this book. This book won the Newberry Award in 1996.

People are Idiots and I Can Prove It! by Larry Winget

Yes, I am an idiot and Larry Winget proved it. SHOOT! L and I listened to this on our car ride home from Oregon last Sunday. What Larry does is paint a picture of common human goals and how many/most people do things to sabotage their success rather than attain their goals. In my professional opinion it is an oversimplification, but still a very useful slap in the face, of why people are unsuccessful. I realized I sabotaged my success in private practice by blaming my lack of confidence rather than my lack of honest preparation and research and hard work. Larry's frank statements also caused discussion between L and I which turned into an argument which turned into resolution, hopefully, of some long term differences we have had. The only thing I wished was more examples of laugh out loud idiocy.