For book club this month, we are reading "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. When I checked it out at the library - I sighed - because this is one long book. It's almost 600 pages long - and for a girl who enjoys procrastinating the reading of books she may or may not enjoy (i.e. book club books) - I knew I was in trouble. This would not be a book I could cram into an evening or two.
So, I put it on my to-do list - and started it over a week ago. 10 pages here, 10 pages there - I was struggling. For one - it's narrated by death, literally - (there actually have been a couple of our book club books where I felt like saying - this book is soo boring it's like its being narrated by death). My other struggle was it is based in Nazi Germany - not one of my favorite subjects (you know I'm shallow right?)
Just as I was about to inquire about cliff notes (and truly I hadn't really given the book a fighting chance as I was only on about page 50), one of my friends told me it really started to pick up by about page 100. So I continued to plod along. And to my surprise -- by about page 80 I started to get into it. As a matter of fact, I couldn't put it down -- and literally read it in two days -- not counting the first 50 pages of course (memo to self: you can read a 600 page book club book in two days)
By then end of the book, I was pleasantly surprised. What a truly well-written and interesting book. I am better for reading it. While it is sad subject matter, the author sprinkles bits of wisdom and humor--to the point that even "death" was cracking me up (okay, so add to shallow a morbid sense of humor). But seriously, "death's" words are poetic at times. I enjoyed "him".
As a shallow and fluffy reader - here's a book that made me feel a little less shallow and (almost) deep.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
A Rose by Any Other Name...
I am terrible at remembering names. Someone can get introduced to me - and a few minutes later I've completely forgotten their name. It's awkward I will admit. Especially when you've met the person 7 times and you still have to pretend you know their name (and of course later eavesdrop to try and hear who they are).
Lately, this has been carrying over to family members. Not that I'm forgetting their names - but just using the wrong name for them. My sister has become my daughter and my daughter my sister, & my son is my nephew - now there's a Dr. Phil episode gone awry.
My latest and greatest name faux pas has actually happened twice in the last week. I have started to call my husband "Bud"(this is usually a term I reserve for my son). The first time it happened was last week on the first day of school. We were all running around like lunatics. I was trying to pack lunches, find paperwork, gather up last minute things -- and get out the door.
My DH was also trying to get out the door and couldn't find his wallet (another story for another day). He was asking everyone if they had seen his wallet. As we were walking out the door, I said, "Did you find it Bud?" He laughed and said, "Did you just call me bud?" I think I blushed (I don't know why I found it so embarrassing - because embarrassing moments with me are a dime a dozen - and there are many that are much worse). I told him I didn't mean to - I claimed I was saying Hun and it just came out wrong. But he didn't believe me.
Then it happened again. Last night, I was trying to get to enrichment night and he was trying to get the kids loaded into the van to go to the ballgame. I needed my purse out of the van. As I hurried past him, DH handed it to me, and I said, "Thanks Bud." He laughed again. I blushed again (what's with the blushing anyway - it's not like I'm being salacious).
He probably thinks I'm doing it on purpose. Which of course I'm not. So, why the sudden weird nickname? I've decided it's due to brain overload. This happens to me every so often when my life is so full of events, sagas and adventures - that things start to spill out of my mouth faster than I can control them. Usually the problem involves me overextending myself and volunteering for everything imaginable. But, apparently it has now transferred over to name calling.
I'm not sure how to solve this silly problem. Do I let the Bud run its course? Should I tell the Bud I mean to do it? What if the Bud starts to suspect there is another Bud in my life - which would then explain the sudden switch to the wrong name? I guess, if worse comes to worse, I'll have to start referring to him as Bud in my blog (rather than DH) - then I can tell him it's just a fancy code name for good-lookin'.
Lately, this has been carrying over to family members. Not that I'm forgetting their names - but just using the wrong name for them. My sister has become my daughter and my daughter my sister, & my son is my nephew - now there's a Dr. Phil episode gone awry.
My latest and greatest name faux pas has actually happened twice in the last week. I have started to call my husband "Bud"(this is usually a term I reserve for my son). The first time it happened was last week on the first day of school. We were all running around like lunatics. I was trying to pack lunches, find paperwork, gather up last minute things -- and get out the door.
My DH was also trying to get out the door and couldn't find his wallet (another story for another day). He was asking everyone if they had seen his wallet. As we were walking out the door, I said, "Did you find it Bud?" He laughed and said, "Did you just call me bud?" I think I blushed (I don't know why I found it so embarrassing - because embarrassing moments with me are a dime a dozen - and there are many that are much worse). I told him I didn't mean to - I claimed I was saying Hun and it just came out wrong. But he didn't believe me.
Then it happened again. Last night, I was trying to get to enrichment night and he was trying to get the kids loaded into the van to go to the ballgame. I needed my purse out of the van. As I hurried past him, DH handed it to me, and I said, "Thanks Bud." He laughed again. I blushed again (what's with the blushing anyway - it's not like I'm being salacious).
He probably thinks I'm doing it on purpose. Which of course I'm not. So, why the sudden weird nickname? I've decided it's due to brain overload. This happens to me every so often when my life is so full of events, sagas and adventures - that things start to spill out of my mouth faster than I can control them. Usually the problem involves me overextending myself and volunteering for everything imaginable. But, apparently it has now transferred over to name calling.
I'm not sure how to solve this silly problem. Do I let the Bud run its course? Should I tell the Bud I mean to do it? What if the Bud starts to suspect there is another Bud in my life - which would then explain the sudden switch to the wrong name? I guess, if worse comes to worse, I'll have to start referring to him as Bud in my blog (rather than DH) - then I can tell him it's just a fancy code name for good-lookin'.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Kidspeak...
Lately my 8 yr old daughter, Savvy has been cracking me up with her kidspeak. Here's a couple of funny moments.
Savvy: (after blowing a bunch of dandelion seeds everywhere) "Mom, I keep making a wish on a dandelion and it never comes true."
Mom: "If that wish involves getting a puppy - think up a new wish."
Savvy Sadly: "Awwww Mom."
Mom: "Where did you hear that name?"
Savvy: "You know mom - like 'aquamarie' - only I shortened it to Marie."
Mom: "Dearest - it's aquamarine - not aquamarie."
Savvy: "Ummm - I don't think Marine is a very good name for a fish - I'm sticking with Marie."
Savvy: (after blowing a bunch of dandelion seeds everywhere) "Mom, I keep making a wish on a dandelion and it never comes true."
Mom: "If that wish involves getting a puppy - think up a new wish."
Savvy Sadly: "Awwww Mom."
********************************************************************************
Mom: "Where did you hear that name?"
Savvy: "You know mom - like 'aquamarie' - only I shortened it to Marie."
Mom: "Dearest - it's aquamarine - not aquamarie."
Savvy: "Ummm - I don't think Marine is a very good name for a fish - I'm sticking with Marie."
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
School Choices...
When we lived in AZ, we had our children in a charter school. At the time, we felt that the charter school was going to offer a better education than the public school in our area (based on a not so stellar year in kindergarten with a first year teacher).
Now, I am not so pro-charter school that I'd never consider a public school. And I know that there are plenty of great teacher's in the public school system who are fantastic -- but based on that one experience -- we made the switch. It turned out to be a great experience for all of my kids - they were challenged, they liked school -- and they were happy.
We moved to Utah three years ago--on the day before school started. Unfortunately, we quickly found out how lousy our public school was when my 5th grader brought home her first spelling list. It looked exactly like my kindergartner's spelling list from the year before. I felt like the entire year was a waste for both my 1st graders and my 5th grader. It was beyond ridiculous.
I helped out in the classrooms weekly and quickly came to the realization - that at this particular school they taught to the lowest denominator. They didn't even try the middle of the road approach. And for my kids who were used to being challenged - it was disappointing.
Needless to say, I started looking hard for an alternative to public schools. By January, I had found 3 charter schools that I was interested in (one being a brand new one) - and immediately put our name on the waiting lists (which were large to say the least).
In the spring, the new school informed me that my children had made it in (they had 1600 students apply for a 600 student school) - we felt lucky. By August, we discovered one drawback to the new charter school. It wasn't finished on time - and it was going to be delayed till September 25th. Talk about one long summer!
At the end of August, we got a phone call and found out our kids had been accepted into another charter school in the area. Six families in my neighborhood have children that attend there and I knew it was a good one. I was in such a quandry. I actually had preferred this school in the first place - since it was established and the programs seemed to really work there. But, as I weighed my pros and cons I decided the only drawback to switching was that the school was only a K-8 -- and the one we were waiting for to be built was supposed to be K-9. That became my deciding factor. It was really important to me that my kids didn't have to switch over to the Jr. high for their 9th grade year.
We ended up having a good experience at the new charter. The kids enjoyed school and seemed to be challenged on a daily basis. We were happy with our decision. Then in January, the school announced they would not be having a 9th grade anymore. There were many excuses as to why this would be impossible - but I have to admit I was a little bugged at the false advertising.
Since my oldest daughter was going to be entering the 7th grade - we had a decision to make. Did we leave her at the charter school and have her switch to jr high for her 9th grade year? Or did we throw her to the wolves of jr high for 7th, 8th and 9th grade? Well, we decided to keep her at the charter - hoping another solution would crop up before she actually reached the 9th grade.
Last week, a solution did crop up. One of my friends whose kids go to the charter we had decided against last year - told me that they were building a jr high and there would be a 9th grade starting next year! I didn't think they'd have any openings. But I called the school anyway. They did have an opening for my 7th grader (not my younger two though). We applied and she's in.
So our problem for 9th grade seems to be solved. The irony in all of this is if we had based our decision on the school and its programs rather than the fact that they had no 9th grade - my kids would already be there and not having to switch to yet another school. Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda, I guess.
Now, I am not so pro-charter school that I'd never consider a public school. And I know that there are plenty of great teacher's in the public school system who are fantastic -- but based on that one experience -- we made the switch. It turned out to be a great experience for all of my kids - they were challenged, they liked school -- and they were happy.
We moved to Utah three years ago--on the day before school started. Unfortunately, we quickly found out how lousy our public school was when my 5th grader brought home her first spelling list. It looked exactly like my kindergartner's spelling list from the year before. I felt like the entire year was a waste for both my 1st graders and my 5th grader. It was beyond ridiculous.
I helped out in the classrooms weekly and quickly came to the realization - that at this particular school they taught to the lowest denominator. They didn't even try the middle of the road approach. And for my kids who were used to being challenged - it was disappointing.
Needless to say, I started looking hard for an alternative to public schools. By January, I had found 3 charter schools that I was interested in (one being a brand new one) - and immediately put our name on the waiting lists (which were large to say the least).
In the spring, the new school informed me that my children had made it in (they had 1600 students apply for a 600 student school) - we felt lucky. By August, we discovered one drawback to the new charter school. It wasn't finished on time - and it was going to be delayed till September 25th. Talk about one long summer!
At the end of August, we got a phone call and found out our kids had been accepted into another charter school in the area. Six families in my neighborhood have children that attend there and I knew it was a good one. I was in such a quandry. I actually had preferred this school in the first place - since it was established and the programs seemed to really work there. But, as I weighed my pros and cons I decided the only drawback to switching was that the school was only a K-8 -- and the one we were waiting for to be built was supposed to be K-9. That became my deciding factor. It was really important to me that my kids didn't have to switch over to the Jr. high for their 9th grade year.
We ended up having a good experience at the new charter. The kids enjoyed school and seemed to be challenged on a daily basis. We were happy with our decision. Then in January, the school announced they would not be having a 9th grade anymore. There were many excuses as to why this would be impossible - but I have to admit I was a little bugged at the false advertising.
Since my oldest daughter was going to be entering the 7th grade - we had a decision to make. Did we leave her at the charter school and have her switch to jr high for her 9th grade year? Or did we throw her to the wolves of jr high for 7th, 8th and 9th grade? Well, we decided to keep her at the charter - hoping another solution would crop up before she actually reached the 9th grade.
Last week, a solution did crop up. One of my friends whose kids go to the charter we had decided against last year - told me that they were building a jr high and there would be a 9th grade starting next year! I didn't think they'd have any openings. But I called the school anyway. They did have an opening for my 7th grader (not my younger two though). We applied and she's in.
So our problem for 9th grade seems to be solved. The irony in all of this is if we had based our decision on the school and its programs rather than the fact that they had no 9th grade - my kids would already be there and not having to switch to yet another school. Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda, I guess.
Until We Meet AGAIN...
Lately, I have been bombarded by so many meetings that I'm starting to get a little overwhelmed by it. I've decided meetings are overrated. Actually - I shouldn't say overrated - because I would guess that most people rate meetings pretty low on their list of fun things to do. But seriously, why do we think we need to meet for every little thing?
I know the nature of the church is to meet and plan with a purpose. But - sometimes all of this meeting and planning gets a little ridiculous. Take this past week for example - I had my RS presidency meeting Tuesday morning - it went a couple of hours. Tuesday night I had a meeting with the Bishopric, EQP, HP, and RSP about home teaching and visiting teaching. (It was 1 hour and 45 minutes of home teaching and 15 visiting teaching - a waste of time for the RS to be sure). Wednesday night I had a 2 hour enrichment meeting (although that one was my doing - we need to get our crafties planned and quick!) And starting next week I have to start attending monthly missionary meetings to represent the RS. All of these meetings - and I'm not even the president (she has to add a weekly Sunday morning meeting onto all of it). Give me strength!
I understand that meetings are a necessary evil. I've been in presidencies where we didn't meet enough - and the organization suffered for it. But, I do think whoever is calling for the meeting needs to invite only those who are absolutely needed -- and then keep it short and to the point (this coming from a girl who loves to chat-- heehee). This makes sense to me. Why have a whole presidency attend a meeting - when you can have one represent all.
This is probably naughty - but I truly believe if more people conducted their meetings through email - we'd be a lot better off. I do this with enrichment and RS a lot. Maybe I'm being totally impersonal about it - but email is a great way to keep tabs on everyone - get feedback from your committee - and make assignments - without having to call or meet.
So what's the answer to the whole meeting problem? I bet we could figure out the solution if someone would just call for a meeting.
I know the nature of the church is to meet and plan with a purpose. But - sometimes all of this meeting and planning gets a little ridiculous. Take this past week for example - I had my RS presidency meeting Tuesday morning - it went a couple of hours. Tuesday night I had a meeting with the Bishopric, EQP, HP, and RSP about home teaching and visiting teaching. (It was 1 hour and 45 minutes of home teaching and 15 visiting teaching - a waste of time for the RS to be sure). Wednesday night I had a 2 hour enrichment meeting (although that one was my doing - we need to get our crafties planned and quick!) And starting next week I have to start attending monthly missionary meetings to represent the RS. All of these meetings - and I'm not even the president (she has to add a weekly Sunday morning meeting onto all of it). Give me strength!
I understand that meetings are a necessary evil. I've been in presidencies where we didn't meet enough - and the organization suffered for it. But, I do think whoever is calling for the meeting needs to invite only those who are absolutely needed -- and then keep it short and to the point (this coming from a girl who loves to chat-- heehee). This makes sense to me. Why have a whole presidency attend a meeting - when you can have one represent all.
This is probably naughty - but I truly believe if more people conducted their meetings through email - we'd be a lot better off. I do this with enrichment and RS a lot. Maybe I'm being totally impersonal about it - but email is a great way to keep tabs on everyone - get feedback from your committee - and make assignments - without having to call or meet.
So what's the answer to the whole meeting problem? I bet we could figure out the solution if someone would just call for a meeting.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
An Overdue Issue...
My daughter is on a swim team which I pay a monthly fee for. We joined in the spring and immediately I realized the payment was going to be an issue for me - not because I can't afford it - but because they won't do an automatic withdrawal out of my bank account. How annoying is that? I have to go in each month and pay - and before you ask - yes, I even requested prepayment of a few months at a time - they said no.
So why is this such an problem for me? I must confess I have overdue issues. What can I say, I am a forgetful - sometimes irresponsible girl - in a lot of aspects of my life. I have had some late fees at the library that were real doozy's. To make myself feel better, I decided to tell myself that my overdue fines are just an annual membership fee I have to pay. You would think with all the "overdue" issues I have - that I would avoid libraries, dvd rentals and the like. But I don't. I guess I always have this lingering goal in the back of my head that I will return things on time.
Now with swim team, I did try to make a valiant effort to pay on time. For the most part I've been only a week late (which is good for me). Then summer arrived. In mid-June they switched to an outdoor pool for part of June, July and August. It's actually closer to my house - so I was initially happy with the new venue.
Then I tried to pay for swim team. It was the middle of July which meant I was already two weeks late with payment (my goal of not being overdue with things kind of took a back seat when I decided to invite Noah's Ark to float in my basement). Anyway, I went to the indoor pool to pay - and the girl told me I had to pay the outdoor pool. I was a little frustrated - and of course I forgot about it -- and a week went by.
Then, I went to the outdoor pool to pay and the girl told me I had to pay at the indoor pool (I made her call to verify- and yes indeed I was to pay at the indoor pool). Are you kidding me? Did they not realized how challenged I was with paying on time in the first place.
Two weeks passed - and again I tried to pay the indoor pool. Once again, the indoor pool told me I had to pay at the outdoor pool. Does the word sabotage mean anything to you? I imagined them secretly laughing at the crazy lady who keeps driving 15 miles between pools trying to pay for her daughter's imaginary swim team.
Finally, yesterday--on August 20th, now over a month and a half overdue with my payment - I went to the outdoor pool to pay. I had outlined my plan of attack. Plan A: Refuse to leave until they accepted my money. Plan B: Threaten to drink all the diet coke at their concession stand (which is secretly a goal of mine anyway). Plan C: Quit the stinkin' swim team that was too good for my money.
Fortunately, I didn't have to resort to any of that. The girl happily accepted my Visa. Although she did feel it necessary to point out - that "Hmmm, you are overdue a month and a half on your payments." It was smile or scream. I chose to smile - it was long overdue.
So why is this such an problem for me? I must confess I have overdue issues. What can I say, I am a forgetful - sometimes irresponsible girl - in a lot of aspects of my life. I have had some late fees at the library that were real doozy's. To make myself feel better, I decided to tell myself that my overdue fines are just an annual membership fee I have to pay. You would think with all the "overdue" issues I have - that I would avoid libraries, dvd rentals and the like. But I don't. I guess I always have this lingering goal in the back of my head that I will return things on time.
Now with swim team, I did try to make a valiant effort to pay on time. For the most part I've been only a week late (which is good for me). Then summer arrived. In mid-June they switched to an outdoor pool for part of June, July and August. It's actually closer to my house - so I was initially happy with the new venue.
Then I tried to pay for swim team. It was the middle of July which meant I was already two weeks late with payment (my goal of not being overdue with things kind of took a back seat when I decided to invite Noah's Ark to float in my basement). Anyway, I went to the indoor pool to pay - and the girl told me I had to pay the outdoor pool. I was a little frustrated - and of course I forgot about it -- and a week went by.
Then, I went to the outdoor pool to pay and the girl told me I had to pay at the indoor pool (I made her call to verify- and yes indeed I was to pay at the indoor pool). Are you kidding me? Did they not realized how challenged I was with paying on time in the first place.
Two weeks passed - and again I tried to pay the indoor pool. Once again, the indoor pool told me I had to pay at the outdoor pool. Does the word sabotage mean anything to you? I imagined them secretly laughing at the crazy lady who keeps driving 15 miles between pools trying to pay for her daughter's imaginary swim team.
Finally, yesterday--on August 20th, now over a month and a half overdue with my payment - I went to the outdoor pool to pay. I had outlined my plan of attack. Plan A: Refuse to leave until they accepted my money. Plan B: Threaten to drink all the diet coke at their concession stand (which is secretly a goal of mine anyway). Plan C: Quit the stinkin' swim team that was too good for my money.
Fortunately, I didn't have to resort to any of that. The girl happily accepted my Visa. Although she did feel it necessary to point out - that "Hmmm, you are overdue a month and a half on your payments." It was smile or scream. I chose to smile - it was long overdue.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
For Your Eyes Only
I go running (almost) every morning with a girl in my neighborhood. This morning, her husband (our Elder's Quorum Pres) came with us. He's a pretty hilarious guy - the J. Golden Kimball of our ward. He is coaching his son's "Ute" little league football team this year - so at the end of our run he suggested we run the "Indian drill" that he makes his 12 year old boys do (I kept calling it the Indian fire drill - we are so not politically correct).
In the Indian drill, you jog in a line and the person in the back sprints to the front and on and on and on (I'm not sure what this has to do with Indians - and I'm sure it has a more PC technical name then the one we were using - but it did make me laugh).
We ran this for about 2 blocks. I have to imagine we were quite the sight. Picture it: the Indian fire drill, being ran on a busy street with a chubby blond girl (me), chubby blond guy, and a skinny (compared to the chubbies) girl. When we were finished - I told them if we ever do that again - it needs to be on a dark, dead end street with no traffic - this was definitely a for your eyes only moment.
In the Indian drill, you jog in a line and the person in the back sprints to the front and on and on and on (I'm not sure what this has to do with Indians - and I'm sure it has a more PC technical name then the one we were using - but it did make me laugh).
We ran this for about 2 blocks. I have to imagine we were quite the sight. Picture it: the Indian fire drill, being ran on a busy street with a chubby blond girl (me), chubby blond guy, and a skinny (compared to the chubbies) girl. When we were finished - I told them if we ever do that again - it needs to be on a dark, dead end street with no traffic - this was definitely a for your eyes only moment.
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