Life of Myka

Testing out Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:01:00 +0000

I'm testing a link between this blog and my new twitter account. I wonder how log it will take for this blog post to appear on Twitter...?

Zeke's growing vocabulary

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:36:00 +0000

This is too priceless of a memory to let pass without preserving it in some fashion.

Zeke is learning to talk. It seems he learns at least one new word a day. Today was a remarkable day because he learned how to identify and say, "Bobby Darin." Yes, that's right. Bobby Darin. Here's how it happened.

Zeke has a great fondness for swing music. I think it's because he really likes the bands and the rhythms. As we were waiting for Darryl to come home this evening, I put on a Bobby Darin CD. Zeke wanted to see the CD cover, which has a picture of Bobby Darin on it. So as we were dancing and listening to the music, Zeke was also studying the CD cover. I told him it was Bobby Darin that was singing and on the CD cover. He would point to the picture and I would tell him who it was. Then he would point to the picture and point to the stereo and try to repeat what I was saying. He got as far as saying "Darin" pretty clearly, but not "Bobby." Every time it was a different variation, from "buh darin" to "buhbuh duh." That's about as close as he gets these days, which is pretty darn good if you ask me (but I'm not biased!).

When Darryl arrived home, I put on the CD again and asked Zeke if he wanted to tell Daddy who was singing. He was a bit in awe with Darryl having just arrived home, so didn't say anything right away. I told Darryl what we had been doing earlier and so he showed Zeke the CD cover again. When asked who it was, Zeke responded clearly, "Darin," pointed to the picture and then pointed to the stereo. And to make sure we knew it was intentional, he pointed to the picture again and said very clearly, "Bobby Darin." This is the largest phrase he's said to date, counting two words and four syllables.

Princess in Love by Meg Cabot

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 19:18:00 +0000

I have become so addicted to these books it's not even funny. Okay, maybe a little bit funny. But here I am, a happily married, almost 27-yr-old mother of 10 month old baby, and I'm completely enjoying The Princess Diaries that I finish one volume per day. Yes, that's right, one per day. Thankfully, I am checking them out of the public library and have to wait a few days before returning and receiving the next one. And the library is closed on Labor Day, so that's a few days in between. It helps that I don't get burned out on them.

In this installment, Mia finally has a boyfriend. The only trouble is that she doesn't like him very much. Well, correction, she likes him just fine, she just doesn't love him. When he confesses his love for her, it's just a bit too much for her to handle. Meanwhile, she's still pining away for Michael, her best friend's older brother. She is able to confess her troubles to her dad, grandmother, mother, Genovian fashion designer Sebastiano, and her good friend Tina. Everything turns out all right in the end: Mia is finally able to break up with Kenny, confess her feelings to Michael, and get a B- in algebra. All is well.

I do have to admit that I sneaked a peak at the end to see if Mia and Michael would get together. But that didn't ruin the book for me. I enjoy Cabot's writing style and read these books with a private smile. Ah, those days of being a teenager. How well I remember them, and how well Cabot captures that teenage angst. Can't wait until the next one arrives at the library for me to read!

The Pastor: a spirituality by Gordon Lathrop

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 14:52:00 +0000

This was the first book I read out of my box of books from the Church & Synagogue Library Association. Having read Lathrop in seminary, I was really looking forward to reading his latest work. It is a practical application of the theological concepts he presents in his trilogy: Holy Things, Holy People, and Holy Ground. It is mainly written for a pastoral audience, but there are sections that could be shared with laity. I appreciate how Lathrop uses liturgy as a foundation for spirituality, as it is often overlooked and neglected as a source for spiritual growth and development. When I read books like this, not only do I yearn for a more liturgical and sacramental way of life for myself, but a chance to administer the sacraments. Alas, I know this is not my calling, which is why I am on deacon track instead of elder. Therefore, I must content myself with assisting with the administration, which is spiritually fulfilling in its own way.

Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 14:51:00 +0000

This is the second book in The Princess Diaries series. It picks up where the first one left off. Mia finds out that her mother is pregnant with her algebra teacher's baby. They (her mother and Mr. G the teacher) decide to get married, and the rest of the book is spent in anticipation of their wedding. Meanwhile, Mia is trying to maintain a normal life while adjusting to the media attention she gets for being a princess. She also discovers she has secret admirer, and she desperately wants to know who it is.

Like the first book in the series, this was an entirely pleasure/escapist read. It reminds me how truly awkward those middle school and high school years were and helps me laugh instead of be completely horrified and embarrassed. It's also nice to enjoy something that helps me escape like this that's not television. Although, with as much reading as I've been doing lately, my eyes will surely get tired!

The Joy a Box of Books Can Bring

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:40:00 +0000

I have volunteered to write reviews for the Church and Synagogue Library Association, and my first batch of books arrived today. They look really excellent as well! Most of them have to deal with aspects of pastoral work, which were probably sent to be because of my seminary background. Anyways, I'm looking forward to reading with a new sense of purpose, and look forward to seeing more reviews here!

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:39:00 +0000

I have to admit, I watched the movies way before I read this book. I enjoy the movies, and I enjoyed this book, but they are very different from one another and have their own unique values. This is the first in the "Princess Diaries" series by Meg Cabot. In it, Mia Thermopolis discovers that her father is the Crown Prince of Genovia. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer and radiation/chemo treatments have rendered him sterile. This means that Mia, his only offspring, is now the sole heir to the throne. Written in a diary format, Mia struggles with the fact that she is a princess along with failing algebra, her mom dating her algebra teacher, and other teenage angst issues. The story takes place in New York City and is much harsher and sharper than the Disney-fied fairy tale movie. The movie has a unified plot with plenty of drive. This book has more of the sense that you're living life with Mia for a few weeks. The culmination of the plot is the Cultural Diversity Dance, which is fine, but it lacks the sense of purpose and finality that the movie had with the final ball. That is the difference between a book that starts a series and a movie, I suppose. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I think it is great literature for middle school and high school readers. It addresses a lot of issues that teens today face in a responsible way.

Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 01:04:00 +0000

One of the more recent adult chick-lit novels to come from the pen of the author more famous for The Princess Diaries, this book follows the formula perfectly. You know the one, first used by Helen Fielding in Bridget Jones's Diary where Pride and Prejudice was retold for the modern day woman who battles with her weight and clumsiness. In Cabot's retelling the female lead is Jane, a highly successful cartoonist who is traveling to Italy to be a witness to her best friend's elopement. The male lead is Cal, a foreign news correspondent who recently authored a highly successful book. He is also traveling to Italy to witness the same elopement as he is best friend of the groom. Jane hates Cal from the first moment they meet, but of course, they wind up together in the end.

Jane is not as neurotic or annoying as Bridget Jones, which makes her instantly more likable. She still has her fair share of hang-ups though. The narrative style of the book is a combination of journal entries and e-mail messages. It makes it a quick read, although I think the font types were poorly chosen. Each communication had its own font type, but these were not as easy to read as the typeface normally used in books. It was a quick read, though, which was nice. Purely fluff, and lightly humorous, it was a nice change of pace from what I've been trying to read lately. I had been wanting to read something by Meg Cabot, and curious about the chick-lit genre. Even though my classmates argued that its not as formulaic as romance, I would have to say that from what I've seen so far it is every bit as formulaic. Just a different formula.

Three Moons Over Milford

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 01:02:00 +0000

I recently watched the pilot episode of this series which will be premiering on ABC Family this fall. It had an interesting premise: An asteroid hit the moon and shattered it into three main pieces. As a result of the lunar change, people are acting really strange, especially when most are interpreting the event as a signal of the end times. The show takes place in the small southern Vermont town of Milford. Main characters include the town lawyer that doubles as a plumber and volunteer fireman, and the Davis family who owns the large computer business in town. Mrs. Davis is a nice enough woman who is clearly attracted to the lawyer. Mr. Davis has run off on a transcontinental journey to climb mountains after he already moved out of the house to a yurt and began practicing Buddhism. The two Davis children are in high school: the 16 year old son wants to get involved with a much older woman and the younger daughter burned down the high school trying to cast a spell to put the moon back together. The show was at times funny, and the acting and writing were not all that bad. Since I don't have cable or satellite anymore I can't say that I'll be watching this show anytime soon. And I don't think it'll become anything great either. It was amusing and not a total waste of time, though.

Lovelock by Orson Scott Card and Kathryn H. Kidd

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 01:00:00 +0000

There were many people in my summer course who read books by Card and really enjoyed them. The most often mentioned was Ender's Game, which was not available at my library before I went on vacation. I checked out this one instead, which was a collaborative project and the first book of the Mayflower Trilogy.

The narrator of the book is Lovelock, an enhanced capuchin monkey who serves as a witness for one of the top scientists of the day, Carol Jeanne Cocciolone. His job as witness involves recording everything that she does and also performing special tasks that she requests. The action starts on earth as the Carol Jeanne and her family are preparing to move to a space station called the Ark. It is a transport vessel that will colonize a new world in another solar system. The family endures many trials and tribulations as they adjust to living in a new community that they will be bound to for the rest of their lives. Lovelock observes the weaknesses and vices of the humans to whom he is enslaved. The story is as much about the humans difficulties with adapting to a new environment as it is the monkey learning about his true state of enslavement and trying to break his programming.

I can't say that I really enjoyed the book. It started out well enough. I found it to be humorous and engaging. Once the characters got settled on the Ark, the tone began to change. Like trapped mice, behavior became erratic and frantic, desperate almost as a response to their new environment and the absolute nature of their task. I will probably not read the rest of the trilogy, but I must admit to a wild curiosity of how the story will turn out. Perhaps my curiosity will get the better of me.

Image from the Angel series

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 20:14:00 +0000

This was a complete junk read. It wasn't bad - just junk. It's a novel based on the "Angel" TV show, a spinoff from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." I would place the action in this book sometime during the second season of the show, pre-Fred and pre-Darla/Conner. It involves a talented painter who has the power to change reality and create new realities through her art. It contains flashbacks from Angel's Angelus days and makes interesting connections to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein that are forced at times. All in all, it wasn't non-enjoyable. But the only reason why I read it was because the book was passed on to me by a friend who bought it on the bargain rack at a local bookstore. I don't know who I'll pass it on to. If there are any takers, let me know! :-)

Abduction by Robin Cook

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 20:08:00 +0000

My suspense choice was a large-print edition of Robin Cook's Abduction. This is a blended sci-fi/suspense novel from an author known for his medical thrillers. If you have any intention of reading this book, skip the following paragrah. It would spoil the story!

The story involves a marine drilling company that discovered a large sea mount previously undiscovered. They are drilling into the side of the sea mount in hopes of extracting magma ore, however the drill bits keep breaking. Every time a drill bit breaks a diving crew has to go down to replace it accompanied by a submersible. The president of the company is on ship, visiting and observing operations when a drill bit breaks. He goes down in the submersible with the chief geologist and sub commander to view the sea mount while repairs are being made by a team of two divers. When the submersible gets to the sea mount and unloads the tools, they go exploring the area and find a rectangular shaft. They enter the shaft and get sucked in by some unknown force. When the divers arrive, there is no trace of the submersible and they set off in search of it. The divers find the same shaft and suffer the same fate. The sea mount erupts, spewing magma, and the crew left on board the ship assume that all parties have dies in a volcano eruption. But this is not the case. The crew of the submersible along with the two divers find themselves in a civilization of very advanced humans called Interterra. They call themselves first-generation humans who were driven underground when a star from a nearby galaxy went supernova stripped the earth of its atmosphere and restarted the evolutionary process. Once they established their society underground, and evolution began again on earth, they felt it better to stay underground and observe evolution instead of moving back to the surface. As the second-generation humans learn more about this society, they become wary of the lack of violence, how people relate to one another and what is required to achieve immortality. The divers have violent streaks and the story is instantly complicated by the accidental murder of two Interterrans. The commander of the submarine is skeptical and wants to leave and return to his family. The two divers, the commander of the submersible and the president escape from Interterra while the geologist recognizes that it is best for her and the Interterrans that she remain. The escape attempt is violent and has a just ending.

This was the book I was least looking forward to reading but it was one that I enjoyed the most. The large-print edition took some adjustment. There seems to be less white space on the page; the ratio of margin to text block size is seems different from that of a normal book. I was also thrown off by the fact that it was printed on thinner paper and was longer than it appeared. This 500 page book was the same thickness as a 300-page normal print book.

As far as the informational value of this novel is concerned, I feel like I received a refresher course on marine geology 101, which was fun because that's a part of science that I really enjoy. I also thought it was interesting that the book included a short glossary of geological terms. I do not know if this was something that only appears in the large-print edition. My public library did not have a normal print edition when I went to return this one, so I could not check.

I suppose the reason why I was not looking forward to reading this book is because I generally do not like suspense. I am already a pretty anxious and tense person and I like to read to relax. I also expected this to be more in the vein of Robin Cook's other medical thrillers, and not being terribly interested in medical stories, I really did not expect to like this book at all. So I was very pleasantly surprised by the fast-moving and intriguing plot and the science-fiction elements. After such an awful experience with Stranger in a Strange Land, I felt that the genre vindicated itself to me with this book. It also reminded me in many ways of mystery books in that I found myself trying to guess what would happen next and being pleasantly surprised at every turn.

In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 04:33:00 +0000

I recently read a mystery novel for my Information Needs of Adults class: In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming. I heard about it from the ATLA Contemporary Religious Literature roundtable held at the 2005 Annual Conference. Since I’m currently practicing librarianship in a local church setting, I thought it would be helpful to read something with theological themes. I also thought I’d enjoy a mystery with theological themes more than a romance, which seems to be the most popular Christian Fiction subgenre.

Plot synopsis: Rev. Clare Fergusson, an Episcopalian priest and ex-Army officer, takes her first appointment in Millers Kill, NY, a small upstate NY town. At a time when women priests were fairly new (written in 2002), Clare has her hands full with this small-town Episcopal church where things have been run in a very traditional way for as long as anyone can remember. Two weeks into her new position, a newborn infant is left on the steps of the church. The local police chief, Russ Van Alystyne, is called in to investigate. There is no indication as to who the parents are, but it is suspicious that the baby was left with a note that it be placed in the charge of a couple at the church who have been trying to adopt a baby for several years. When a young girl is found murdered on the bank of a nearby creek, things get even more suspicious. Clare and Russ together investigate the abandoned baby and mysterious murder. I’m not saying anything else because I don’t want to give away what happens.

I was impressed with this book on two levels. One, it was a good mystery. I like to try and guess what’s coming next and if I’m able to guess to accurately then I know the book isn’t that good. A book that can keep me guessing throughout, is a good book because it keeps me thinking and on my toes. This book had me guessing and thinking right up to the end. Some aspects of the plot were predictable, but then there’d be a slight twist or difference in what I imagined was coming and what was actually happening. It was a quick read, with just the right balance of description and dialogue. It’s just a nicely written book. I suppose that’s part of the reason why it won a Malice Domestic award.

The second level on which I was impressed with this book was its theological content. This is the first book I’ve read in a long time that actually handled theological questions in a responsible, well-thought-out manner. As a mainline, slightly liberal, United Methodist, this approach to theology in literature was refreshing. An example, when Clare is talking to the police dispatcher:

Harlene looked embarrassed. “I was going to ask if you believe praying can really help at a time like this.”
Clare folded her hands together and pressed them to her lips. She paused. “I believe that prayer focuses our human thoughts and energies, sends them to the people we’re praying for. I believe that helps, in ways we can’t yet understand.” Harlene looked surprised. She had probably expected a quick yes. Followed by an exhortation to the Almighty to keep everyone safe. “I believe that God hears our prayers, and cherishes them. I believe He answers by sending us His spirit, giving us strength, and peace and insight. I don’t think He responds by turning away bullets and curing cancer. Though sometimes that does happen.”
Harlene frowned. “In other words, sometimes, the answer is no?”
“No. Sometimes the answer is ‘This is life, in all its variety. Make your way through it with grace, and never forget that I love you.’”
Harlene creaked back in her wheeled dispatcher’s chair. “You’re not one of those strict fundamentalist preachers, are you?” (p. 132)

This is just one example of the theological depth of this book. One other thing I was impressed with in regard to its treatment of church life was in the character of Clare. She represents a very human clergy person, complete with faults and vices. She is not the holier-than-thou type of clergy person who is above all other characters, nor is she a stock character that lacks depth. She is a very real person to whom I could identify with as a fellow clergywoman. I was skeptical at first about the ex-Army officer aspect, but it is necessary to make parts of the plot a little more believable, and so it works.

All in all, I would have to say that this book has one of the highest informational values of any of the other books I’ve read for this class. I am considering acquiring this book for my church library and encouraging my congregation to read it. That is how strongly I feel about the theological content of this book. This is definitely a good example of how fiction can have informational value

Fresh Milk by Fiona Giles

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 01:45:00 +0000

I just finished reading Fresh Milk: The Secret Life of Breasts by Fiona Giles. Darryl gave it to me for Christmas and it is touted as "Provacative and insightful, surprising and occasionally irreverent, Fresh Milk is a lactation primer for the twenty-first century" (Hope Edelman). This is definitely not your typical guide to breastfeeding. In fact, it's not a guide at all. This is a collection of essays, stories, poems, and quotes about all aspects of breastfeeding -- including aspects you never knew existed! Giles sent out questionaires to hundreds of people regarding breastfeeding and this book is the result of her research. She adapted some of the responses to a short story format, while others she simply printed as they were. It covers issues such as breastfeeding other people's children, wet nursing, breastfeeding and sexuality, lactation porn, weaning, breastfeeding failures, etc. About the wide range of topics included in her work, Giles concludes: "The stories in this book reach toward a wider, and a wilder, space in which breastfeeding might more freely ebb and flow. They also express a wish to be safe, a basic need that any creature might feel while tending its young. . . . The power of a story is to create a wilderness territory that is also safe---where unorthodox acts, like feeding kittens, making breastmilk ice cream, advertising for a wet nurse, or becoming a breastfeeding father, appear commonplace. These are not feasible in everyone's life, but they contribute to our imaginary possibilities, and to the reservoir of knowledge about the human body as a producer of milk." Giles is committed to breaking boundaries and making breastfeeding more acceptable in our culture. And while I am not personally one to join the La Leche league, I have not shied away from nursing Zeke in public, nor will I with my future children. Breastfeeding is a natural nursing act that should be cleared of the taboo that seems to surround it. Hooray for Fiona Giles in publishing this work that is at times bordering on the scandalous. I will be passing it along to friends who breastfeed, and even some that don't. It's an eye-opening piece of writing on a topic that deserves more attention.

The Fellowship of the Ring on audiobook

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 03:17:00 +0000

I have been listening to The Fellowship of the Ring, by J. R. R. Tolkien, narrated by Rob Inglis, ©1990 by Recorded Books, LLC (15 cassettes, 20.5 hours).

I remember reading The Hobbit in 8th grade. Nothing about the story, mind you, just the act of reading it. I recall my grumpiness and boredom, gleefully cracking the spine of my paperback and highlighting the vocabulary words my teacher asked us to find (things I never did to books I loved, at least not until I went to college and learned that writing in books can be a good thing). I also remember getting to the last battle scene (I think there was a dragon involved), and getting so enthralled in the story that I did not want to put the book down. But I was so intent on despising the book that I would never admit that I actually came to enjoy it. So it was that I never read any of Tolkien’s other books, nor did I rush out to see the movies. I watched half of the first film with a group of friends and went to see “Return of the King” with my father-in-law. It wasn’t enough to get me interested in reading the books, though, which I had heard numerous times were even more tedious than The Hobbit.

I picked this audiobook because of the following reasons: 1) I had already picked up four other books for romance, sci-fi, mystery, and horror, and found a large-print suspense, which meant I had to pick an audiobook for fantasy; 2) 15 cassettes take up a lot of space on the shelf which helped make this book “jump out” at me; 3) If I am ever going to read this book, I thought listening to the audiobook might inspire me to actually do it.

For those of you who have not read The Fellowship of the Ring and have not seen the movie (I know you’re out there because I used to be one of you!), here is a very brief synopsis:
When last we met the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, he had collected lots of treasures on his journeys out of the Shire, one of which is a mysterious and magical ring that makes him disappear when he wears it. This ring was forged by a very evil power, and now the very evil power is trying to rise again and is in search of the ring. Bilbo, not realizing the full significance of the ring, passes it down to his nephew Frodo Baggins. Gandalf the wizard tells Frodo about the ring and advises him to leave the Shire before the black horsemen have a chance to catch him and seize the ring. Frodo sets out on a journey, accompanied by a few hobbit friends, and meets elves, dwarves, and men along the way as they are all chased by the dark forces who are looking for the ring.

Now, I hope that those of you are more familiar with the story will forgive me for my vague account of the plot. In part I blame the audiobook format and its incompatibility with my lifestyle. I have listened to audiobooks before, mostly in the car, and found them to be a true delight. That was when I made 30 minute commutes to and from school when I lived in Dallas, TX. Since moving to Atlanta, I live 2 miles away from where I used to work and most of the places I go are within a 5-mile radius of my house. I rarely drive more than 10-15 minutes to go anywhere. If I had restricted listening to this audiobook to my car, I would still be on the first five tapes. Instead, I tried to incorporate listening to it into my daily routine. At first I thought it was pretty cool, listening to the book while I cooked dinner, checked my e-mail, played with my son, etc. By the 10th tape, however, it became a bit more tiresome. I found I would miss things quite often as I stopped to pay attention to something else. For example, I wasn’t quite sure that Gandalf had disappeared and had to look it up in my hard copy of the book to revisit the passage and see what had happened. I was also expecting the book to have at least a small story arc and sense of finality to it, but even when I was on the 15th tape and knew the end was near, I was surprised to hear the words “THE END.” These are details that I might have found if I had been reading book instead of listening to it.

To the audiobook’s credit, it did serve to get me interested in reading LotR. The narrator was good, although he doesn’t sound as good as the guy that does the Harry Potter books, based on some of your observations and comments. Rob Inglis did make up different voices for the characters and sang the tunes (I’m curious if someone wrote out melodies for them or if he made up the tunes), but the voices were not distinct enough for me to always discern who was talking at any given time. That was a bit frustrating when I had to stop and start the tapes at odd points during the story. I also found it intriguing that they included Tolkien’s foreword, which discusses some of the underlying themes and motivations for writing LotR. That in itself really made me want to read the book for myself because I knew I wouldn’t be able to catch all the symbolism and allegory by listening to it.

I do think audiobooks are a good thing, but for myself I will save the pleasure for long car trips and a time when I may have to commute more than 15 minutes. They are much better enjoyed when you’re just looking at the long road ahead of you, making a journey of your own as you listen to the journey of a good story.

Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 23:48:00 +0000

This is the first true romance novel I've read, and I was not impressed. Nora Roberts may be a very popular author, and perhaps this wasn't one of her greatest novels (although the surveys I've seen rank it as in the top 10), but I just don't think this is the type of book for me. The plot was somewhat predictable, although I will admit that the plot twist at the end caught me a little by surprise. I was impressed that there was more than one type of love story going on; this was as much about romantic love between men and women as it was familial love between sisters. The murder mystery which was interwoven through the book was often jarring and it seems that Roberts placed it in the story merely to function as a catalyst for the plot. If her character development were a bit stronger, the mystery element would have been unnecessary to keep and maintain the reader's attention. All in all, I have decided that I am not a romance novel reader and am truly enjoying returning to the world of literature. Up next, my review of a horror book: Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat.

back from long hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:32:00 +0000

Okay, so I've given birth, quit my job, gone back to school full-time and am taking care of my son full-time. . . can anyone blame me from taking a few months off from blogging? Instead of rehashing everything that has happened since I last posted, I'm just going to move forward. Anyone who doesn't know what's been going on can e-mail me and I'll fill you in on a few of the details.

As I move forward with this blog, I plan to continue writing about books I've read and things that have happened. It will probably be more of the former than the latter. I am currently taking a course on Information Needs of Adults and will be reading a book from six different genres. As a reader of literature and not really genre fiction, this will be a new and learning experience for me that I would like to share. What you have to look forward to next: a review of Nora Roberts's Montana Sky, my first ever romance novel.

Birds!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 15:04:00 +0000

After trying to scan and take pictures of the bird fabric I plan to use in the baby's room, I finally decided to try and find a picture on the web. Here's one I found on e-Bay; apparently the fabric company does not have its own website. The background color of this fabric is white instead of yellow, but at least you can get the general idea of what the birds look like.

Book 12 for 2005

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 23:14:00 +0000

Birthing from Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz; ©1998, Partera Press, 309 p.

I've started reading books on childbirth, trying to prepare myself, and this was the first. The authors are also the founders of a childbirth class by the same title, so the book read a little like a textbook or workbook. Very skimmable with exercises, this book encourages the reader in practices of self-reflection and introspection while preparing for childbirth. This is mostly written for people who have an interest in natural, drug-free childbirth, however there is also a chapter on pain-relief options. While it had some new age, earth mother, touchy-feely moments, I thought this book was generally helpful and encouraging. Please note that my opinion may change after I experience the miracle of childbirth.

Book 11 for 2005

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 12:45:00 +0000

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling; © 2003, 870 p., Scholastic.

Yes, I know. I'm a bit behind the times just now getting to Book 5 of the Harry Potter series. Everything you've heard about this one is true. It is a bridge book without a main overarching plot. Each chapter is more like an episode in a serial. There are elements of the story that carry through the book, but it is unlike the other four books in that there is no main mystery that the group is trying to solve. It was definitely darker than the previous books and I wonder at how much darker Book 6 will be (I'll find out soon as I'm reading it next). I don't want to say too much in this little review because I hate to give away the story to anyone else who hasn't read it---although, I may have been the last person on the planet to read it. At any rate, I'll stop for now and leave the rest for those who will want to read the book and discover things on their own.

Furniture for the baby's room

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 13:00:00 +0000

Well, we've gotten the room almost set up. Last weekend my mom helped me find all the furniture we would need and then some. The crib was a lot more difficult to find than the rest of the furniture, but I'm really glad we got it done. Darryl painted the room on Monday, the dresser, chest and nightstand came on Wednesday, and we put the crib together yesterday. See the pictures below for a visual. I still haven't gotten everything situated the way I want it, but there's still plenty of time for that. I'm just so glad to have another thing checked off my list of things to do in the next three months before the baby comes!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 12:57:00 +0000

Dresser with reflection of crib

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 12:56:00 +0000

Poplar crib

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 12:55:00 +0000

Maple nightstand

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 12:54:00 +0000

Maple chest of drawers