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Now that I have begun posting proud Grandma pics you'll probably have to beat me off with a stick to make me stop. Every Wednesday evening we have family dinner and I get my baby fix for the week. (And also enjoy the adults present!) Every single week she changes and has new tricks to show off. Last night her favorite toy was a dinner napkin. Some cute ones this week with her pretty mommy.
That's usually the way the story goes, right? The books are always better than the movies. For the purposes of today's post, however, the two are unrelated.
We have been on a major losing streak in the film department. Aside from "Avatar", which we saw twice and loved it both times, most of the films we've viewed in recent weeks have been reasonably terrible. Makes me wonder if it's me or the selection. We've already discussed "Green Zone". This one is getting much better reviews that I gave it, so I'll lay the blame there at my door. "Repo Men" had a few redeeming moments (one involving a typewriter), but I still give it a thumbs down. I wanted to love "Wolfman", because who doesn't love a good werewolf movie, but aside from some great actors and amazing costumes, it was pretty dismal. "Book of Eli" was fairly good with an ending I did not see coming, and I actually enjoyed "Alice in Wonderland" quite a lot, so I should not paint the entire bunch with a dark brush. Maybe the beautiful emotion of "A Single Man" ruined me for those that followed. I don't know. At least there have been some very good books.
Just like I need to have more than one knitting project going at a time, I also have at least two books that I am reading, or listening to, during the same time period. One on the Kindle, one in the car and maybe one actual book. After going through a bit of a dry book period, the latest have been very, very good. Last week I finished listening to "The Lost Symbol" and holy cow, was it fantastic. The thing I love the most about Dan Brown's books it how much they make me think and want to research different ideas he presents. They are the sort of books I what to read with a highlighter and Google nearby. A great read and shines an interesting light on Washington DC.
Also in the audio book department, I'm currently listening to "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane". Amazing Husband listened to it first, and recommended it. Moves back and forth from 1991 to the early 1700's and involves some history of the Salem witch trials. The author has a really lovely descriptive style and I find myself driving around blocks or sitting in lots to hear just a bit more. Looking forward to hearing how it ends.
The next two were surprises for me and I read them via my Kindle. Let me say that I have never been a fan of Regency Romances, or inspirational /Christian fiction and these books are both. The first I read was "The Apothecary's's Daughter". The story is so well told and the characters so interesting that all the reasons that I thought I didn't care for this type of book never entered my mind. Another positive point for Kindle; the night I finished The Apothecary's Daughter I found
myself in the bathroom at 2am feeling very unwell. I brought my kindle into the bathroom and from my little nest of blankets on the floor I downloaded the next book, "The Silent Governess" right then and there. Thirty seconds later it was available on my Kindle and I read several chapters until I felt well enough to return to bed. I love my Kindle! I have since finished TSG and am ready to read anything else Ms Klassen has written. Just goes to show that how far an open mind can take you.
And finally, I have picked up "Eat, Pray, Love" to read for the third time. There is nothing I do not love about this book and each time I read it I find something new that speaks to my heart.
The light was terrible in the room so these pictures are a little grainy, but even with less than perfect photography skills, she is crazy adorable. Miss Cambria Joy is nearly 5 months old and becoming more irresistible by the day. Every week she grows and changes and delights us.
As I attempt to become more healthy in body and mind it appears that I am going through a short period of semi-numb. I say "short period" because I will not tolerate anything else. For now, every time I sit down to post to this blog I get that scary white page syndrome; blank page, even blanker brain. Not that I ever fooled myself in thinking I was an enchanting writer, but I could usually find a thing or two to say about something. So, in a valiant effort to get my head back in the game of life and blogging, I'm just going to start with the past couple of days and hope a spark takes hold.
Uh-huh...(throat clearing). Friday I worked my usual half day, though it was perhaps even crazier than usual (more on that later). When I got home Amazing Husband and I decided to have a date night - The Green Zone and dinner at Lino's. Normally we both do some research on our movie choices, but this time we both dropped the ball. The commercials made it out to be another Bourne type film, but it was nothing of the sort. I admit to being a little sensitive, especially in the area of war, but I almost walked out on this one. It takes place during the early years of the Iraq war and the search for the UMDs. Made me want to move to some neutral, peaceful country where people are more important that power. Matt Damon was very good in it, but that's as far as I'll go. Dinner afterward, with my fantastic husband, was lovely, and reasonably quiet. We spent a bit of time at Border's and called it a night.
Saturday our store hosted a meeting of 38 owner/operators of independent Fair Trade stores. My boss, bless her, was a basket case all last week trying to get the store ready for this event (hence the crazy Friday). I came in Sat. am about 9:00 meet-and-greeted, etc., and then sat at my computer and took notes all day. At first, it was sort of refreshing to hear people get up and talk about what brought them to the fair trade movement and their passion for ending global poverty. About 7 hours later I was ready to poke my eye out with my pen. The purpose of the meeting was to possibly form an organization of support for the independent store owner and I hope they worked something out. I left about 5:00 and there was no end in sight. The birth of anything, even an organization, can be a messy thing. I did have a front row seat to the Rockford St. Paddy's day parade. It was pretty short and the highlight was a green dog. Gotta love Rockord.
There has been knitting and reading and general welcoming of Spring. Meditation has become a daily practice and I am better for it. We are about a month away from the one year anniversary of Mother's death and I can feel it sneaking up behind me. It's ok, though, as I am better prepared now, and my little army of support stays close. One more day toward brighter days.
It was beginning to clear when I took this picture, but when I woke up this morning I couldn't even see the tree line in the back. Pea soup, I tell you. Kind of a soggy way to begin a new week, though the mutts don't seem to mind. Some rain yesterday made a big dent in the snow and I've seen multiple robins, so warmer temps and sunnier days aren't far off. We must be patient.
It's been over a week since we last visited here in Muttville. It's all good here....just couldn't think of anything much to say. It's been a week of transition for me as I learn to live as a person with anxiety issues. I have new drugs, which I REALLY did not want to take and now that I have can't imagine what my problem was. I feel so much better. I also have a new therapist, who is lovely and has made the process as easy as possible for me.
So, rather than dwell on my crazy, I just want to tell you all that I'm good and getting better. Sometimes it takes a little crazy to head a person in the right direction. Onward to Spring!!!
