#96 Edgar Sawtelle

Ok, so I finally finished this book last night. And I have to say, "What?!" What an incredibly disappointing ending. It was already 200 pages too long and then I didn't even get the satisfaction of the situation being resolved. I cannot believe that is how it ended? Anybody?

I really liked when Almondine and the other dogs were the speakers for the chapters, that was very interesting to think about the situation through the dogs' eyes. I felt such a connection to Almondine and was very sad when I realized what would happen to her. Poor puppy. I say this after my own dog had yet another seizure last night when my husband startled her out of sleep last night. At almost the spot in the book where Almondine goes looking for Edgar. weird...

Why is everybody dying? Why is there nine thousand pages (OK, here is where you need to know that I exaggerate, a lot) of pointless dog training information, correspondence with other dog breeders, and run through the forest images. I get that he ran away. Now get on with it. When he meets Henry it finally got interesting again. And why doesn't he listen to the crazy Ida lady? Stay away, do not go home.

I am one of those people who enjoy the little paragraphs at the end of movies that tell you the rest of the ever afters for the characters. This book provided so little in closure that a brief epilogue would have been nice. What happens to Tinder and Baboo and Henry? Where do the dogs go after the barn burns? Has Trudy figured it all out? Is Glen blind for good? Do they find out about the mysterious bottle of poison? How does Trudy manage to go on without everybody she loves?

So another Oprah book pick down the drain. What is it with her picking books that are just, well, lacking - in my opinion, of course. I don't mind a long book. I devoured the Harry Potter series. I have read awesome Stephen King books that I wished would keep going on and on. There have been many, many books that I wished were longer. But this one needed some editing and then an alternate ending. Very disappointing, especially after as long as I waited to finish it.

Anybody out there agree? or disagree? I'd love to hear your opinions too!
Next up, Mistress Shakespeare by Karen Harper.

rainy mood

I think I am giving in. The rain has been coaxing me into a yucky mood all day. And I have finally decided to just let it take me. I spent the morning volunteering in kindergarten, filing things, helping the kids make a city scene with the Statue of Liberty and assorted buildings. Too much glue, white chalk everywhere, and kids asking the same questions but never stopping long enough to listen for an answer. The kids know the end is near, only 10 more days of school til summer vacation!

I came home around lunchtime to deal with problems with coordinating VBS for my church this summer. I do not like recruiting people, I do not like talking on the phone or emailing people, basically badgering them into helping out. I am not good at it. You can tell me no and I'm okay with that. I do not take it personally. You need to be a cheerful giver of your time (or you'll end up like me today!) or you shouldn't do it.

Maybe I'm just hungry or bored or hormonal or anxiously awaiting the return of my children from school. But whatever it is, I feel yucky today. I hope tomorrow will be better. See ya then...

#97 American Wife

I know earlier I said The Story of Edgar Sawtelle would be book #97 but since I had to finish American Wife first to return it to the library on time, I have switched them up a bit. I hope you'll forgive me for being confusing, as that is how I am most of the time:)

So, American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (who is a girl by the way). I really enjoyed this book. I have always liked Laura Bush in an abstract kinda way because, to tell you the truth, I really don't know much about her. I knew she was a librarian and that education and literacy are important to her(me too, being a former teacher and mother of 2). I remember something about a car accident when she was younger being in the news at one point as well. So having these things in my head before I even started reading the book made the first few chapters very interesting to me. It seemed to jump too quickly from life before being the governor's wife to the president's wife. I wanted more details, more stories, but at 555 pages already I'm not sure how that would have been possible.

I am very intrigued now though and want to read a real biography of Laura Bush. I would like to know how much of this fictionalized story mirrors her life. I like reading books like this. I have long been reading historical fiction books about the women of the Bible and then going to the Bible to get the "real" story. Of course, the fictionalized books are so interesting with the imagined details that make it all come together and illustrate what it was like to live at that time.

But back to American Wife, I found the last 100 pages kinda disorganized and distracting, jumping from one point in time to another. I found the character of Charlie Blackwell to be an interesting take on what W. might really be like. I am not the Bush hater that many people are these days and I do think he must have an interesting story to tell as well. Alice was a normal, insecure child. She grew into a reserved and competent woman. Her attraction to Charlie is obvious, but at the same time inconceivable. What could she possible see in him? His sense of humor and the fact that he does not take himself so seriously, like she does all the time must have felt like a welcome relief. Alice Lingren Blackwell was much more interesting before Charlie became governor but she explains all that with stories from her past and why her political views are almost unknown. To be able to keep all her views away from the general public is impressive. I liked when Maj finally tells Alice she married down but then I felt really sorry for Charlie that no one in his own family values him. I liked that Dena and Alice made up and they weren't responsible for leaking information to the press. Dr. Wycomb turned out to be less than honorable. I enjoyed reading the book and will feel obligated to read a biography of Laura Bush even though I really don't like biographies.

Has anyone read about Laura Bush? Tell me about it, recommend the best book to go with next. So, that's my take on this one, I can't wait to hear from you.

strawberry picking

I picked the girls up a few minutes early yesterday from school so we could drive to the orchard to pick strawberries. I wanted to get out on the back roads before the school buses. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the peach orchard so it would be unbearably longer if we had to stop every few feet for the school bus.

I love Chiles Orchard in Crozet. We have never been there to pick peaches, my family is not a huge fan of peaches. They also grow cherries and strawberries. We might have to go back this summer for the cherries and go again in a few weeks for more strawberries. We picked enough for one batch of homemade jam, but I usually make 2 batches. Homemade strawberry jam makes a good end of the year teacher gift. I like making things, food especially for the girls' teachers, instead of buying something the teachers don't need (and I can't afford!) I like combining a handful of strawberries, a banana and about 6-8 oz of orange juice with ice in the blender for a light and yummy smoothie. And of course the girls just eat them right out of the box.

The girls were super excited to pick with me. Another mom friend of mine and her two children came along this time too so it was extra fun for the girls. When they lost interest in finding the really good strawberries they had friends to run around with and play. We even shared a strawberry ice cream sundae before we came back home. Nothing like fresh picked strawberries! It was a great afternoon.

I'm almost done with American Wife!

tired girlie

Just put a crying child on the bus. I hate when I have to do that. I am guessing she is just over-tired and 8! I put them to bed by 8:00, but they don't fall asleep right away. She had a busy weekend. Her first Christian rock concert, a soccer game, a birthday party. We even did a movie night Saturday night because we had rented The Tale of Despereaux from Netflix. But I made sure that the movie would be over by 8:00pm. With the sun staying up later and the impending summer vacation, I think it is just too hard to fall asleep.

Which, of course, makes for ugly mornings full of tears and talking back. Not because she is a mean spirited child, but because she is 8 and tired. She is quickly remorseful and cries even harder when she realizes that she sounded ugly. I feel so bad for her but I also don't want that behavior to continue.

I am not a morning person either. I love being semi-awake, under all my warm and cozy blankets, listening to my husband get ready or my kids get breakfast. Then I will myself out of bed to make the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and to consult on what outfits to wear and predict the weather. Then I throw on yesterdays jeans and walk the girlies up the driveway and wait for the bus. I love that the bus stop is the end of my driveway! It doesn't get more convenient than that.

I waved to M this morning after she got on the bus, she looked back with that "I am so miserable" face, or maybe it was the "I can't believe you are making me go to school today" face. Either way, I waved and mouthed "I love you" with a smile on my face and I pray that she'll find some inner strength to turn her frown around and make the best of her day. She does have some nice friends at school and a great teacher. Poor little girlie....

first concert

Last night, my husband and I took our girlies to their very first concert. Casting Crowns was in town last night and it was awesome. If you are familiar with Casting Crowns, you know that they are a Christian rock band led by a youth pastor. So the concert was very much like a worship service at church: a few songs, some scripture, some stories, more songs, a plea for help with an organization that sponsors children all around the world to bring water and education and, of course, Jesus to other countries, and then more songs.

Both girlies were excited about the concert. S, who is just 6, even made her own sign on lined paper to hold up for the band. It said "You rook!" M, who is 8, just had to burst her bubble and explain that it was spelled wrong so S quickly turned the paper over and wrote "You Rock!" M loves Casting Crowns. We have been listening to The Altar and The Door CD for the past few weeks in the car, constantly starting song #1 and song #3 over and over. S was excited to hear Slow Fade in person and soon after she heard her song, she fell asleep leaning against my arm. It was well past 9:00pm at this point so it was very cute. I was amazed she sleep through a rock concert; but I guess when you are tired, you can fall asleep anywhere!

M loves song #1 so intently that at one point she slouched in her seat and said, "I don't think they are going to sing my song." They had already been playing for close to 2 hours (short intermission with opportunity to sponsor a child included). So you can only imagine how her face just completely lit up when the last song of the concert started. It only took about 3 notes and M recognized it as her favorite. She quickly stood up, wanting to be held higher by Daddy and shouted the lyrics right along with the band. The band played one more song as an encore after that, but M just beamed and proclaimed this was the best night of her life.

When I purchased the tickets back in March, my husband and I discussed whether we should take our girlies or get a babysitter. I think we made the right decision. They had a blast and I like that their first concert was with us and a Christian band. I didn't worry that anything inappropriate would be said or done. No suspicious smoke? smell? was evident. There were far less people there as well, less to overwhelm two young children, and our seats were fairly close to the band. What a great evening to spend together as a family!

Happy Mother's Day

My Mother's Day celebration started Saturday. My husband and children took me to my favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch. I can still smell the yummy fried chicken chimichanga with guacamole and chips and salsa. Yum Yum Yum. Then Saturday night I went out with two friends for a pedicure and a drink at a restaurant with an outdoor patio. It looked like rain, but we were spared. My blue arctic martini was very good, but just hanging out with friends and getting to talk and catch up was wonderful.

After church on Sunday my children wanted to take me out for ice cream. Well, they really wanted ice cream; and there, of course, was Mother's Day to consider so they thought if they made it a present for me, Dad would concede. It worked and I even got Panera for lunch first! But a child sized scoop of cookie dough ice cream on a sugar cone was a great dessert idea.

The rest of the afternoon the girls played outside, it was the first day in almost two weeks where it didn't rain at some point. I remembered to call my own mother and then my husband and I watch old Office episodes on Netflix. A pretty nice weekend I'd say.

left behind vs. death

Spoiler alert - Island of the Blue Dolphins

So M and I are reading Island of the Blue Dolphins. We get to the end of the chapter where the girl and her brother get left behind on the island and M cries. She says, "This is so sad. What will they do. Will the boat come back for them?" She bargains with me to read one more chapter even though it is already past her bedtime. I try to encourage her to imagine all the directions the story could go next. I have read this book a few times in my life already but am finding it hard to remember all the details so I don't even know what will happen next. Finally she goes to sleep.

Two nights later when we get to read the next chapter. We find out that the wild dogs on the island kill the brother. M has no reaction, except to say, "Why do all books make the ending of the chapter so exciting that you want to keep reading?" "So you will keep reading," I say back, but not tonight. I also wanted to say, "Do you understand what has happened? The little boy just got attacked by the dogs and now the girl is alone on the island," but I didn't want to upset her and make her cry all over again. I just couldn't believe that being left alone was sadder than the brother dying. For me, at least when she was left behind on the island she had someone with her. Now she is really alone and her brother is dead! Now I am sad for the character. But maybe M is unaffected because she doesn't have a brother or she thinks being left alone is the worst thing she can imagine? Maybe she is thinking about what she would do if she were left alone on an island. Maybe it just hasn't set in yet. Or maybe she was just over-tired the other night and needed something to cry about so I'd stay in her room longer. I will ask her about it the next time we pick up the book.

I am enjoying this book club experience so far. I am getting good quality time with my M. I am reading awesome literature and showing M how much fun reading can be. I get to sit in her bed and snuggle with her as we read. Who knows how much longer she'll allow that?

ISO best friend

I just got back home from a haircut. I really like this one, opted for long side swept bangs and and some shaping to make my normally thick and fuzzy hair very cute when flat ironed. I hope the happiness lasts through the morning when I have to style it myself:)

I have a great friend coming over for lunch today. I am so excited. I was just thinking the other day how I really miss having a best friend. You know the one person you must tell everything to as soon as it happens. The one friends you wouldn't dream of going out on a ladies night out without. The one friend who tells you like it is and not necessarily how you want it to be. The one friend who always has time to listen to your problems even if their kitchen was on fire. You know that friend, don't you? I know that friends come into your life at different times to fulfill different holes and support you in different ways, but wouldn't it be nice if one person, one girlfriend, could do all those things for you?

I have been missing that person in my life a lot lately. I have great friends and some really awesome acquaintance-type friends. You know the ones you have a ball with when you get together but then you only get together three times a year? I have a technical best friend. We have been best friends since 1983 when I moved to PA and she came riding up on her big wheel in her red bathing suit and asked if I wanted to go swimming in her pool. I love her dearly. When I moved to VA she followed not long after and we worked together for awhile. Then I got married and had kids and now we don't have much to talk about. She goes out with younger friends and dates and works. I stay home with children and hang out with my husband in the evenings. When we do make time for each other, it is fabulous - like we have never been apart; but it is not often enough.

I made great friends when teaching. I made great friends when I started going to church and helping out on the preschool floor. I made friends at my kids' schools. But what I am really in search of is a soul mate kind of girl friend. Like my college roommate when we were in college, now we just don't get to see each other as much since she lives 5 hours away. How do you find one of those when you are 34? People have their own families and jobs and responsibilities and hobbies and FRIENDS! I will keep looking because I find that I am lonely when my kids are at school and my husband is at work. I am trying to find something to do with my time, a part time job or maybe even a full time one! Maybe I'll meet someone great there? Until then, I'll just keep looking....are there personal ads for friends? Mine would say something like: Married female with kids in search of same who likes to run, read, cook and window shop. Someone who lives close by and has time for phone calls, movies, dining out, and just hanging around watching the kids play. If her husband gets along with my husband, even better! The world of double dating, shared babysitter fees, and combined family vacations are on the horizon.

Is this too much to ask for?

the best days

I'm so glad the sun is actually shining right now. It seems as though it has been gray and rainy for weeks. The kids just got off the bus and are now engrossed in Tom and Jerry cartoons. They get about 30 minutes of cartoons to wind down before I get to hear the stories of how their days went. I love this time of day, even though some days it appears that I do not. Truth be told, I missed them all day when they were at school, learning and playing and doing things that I cannot see. What will influence them today? What little girl will be mean to my girl? What little boy will tease because he likes my girl? What teacher will tell them something that I do not agree with? What teacher will explain something to them that I could not? It is scary that they live apart from me now for almost 8 hours a day, five days a week.

I really don't consider myself a control freak, at least not anymore, and not in comparison to t others that I know. And I don't consider myself overprotective either. I like some things done my way, everybody does. But not knowing what my kids are doing and who they are being influenced by is a weird helpless feeling. On days when I really think about this, I just cling to the idea that I have provided them with a good foundation. One based on love and respect. They have boundaries and expectations but also the freedom to talk to me and discuss and negotiate, especially as they both grow older. Some things are just because I said so, because I went to college for 6 years (B.S. and M.Ed.) studying child development, taught elementary school for 5 years, and I am the mom. Others are open to discussion. While I have not been a Christian my entire life, I have always believed in God. I have been a part of a church community for over 4 years now and I believe that God has granted me the honor of my daughters' safe keeping. I believe that I need to encourage them to be who they are in the context of our family and community. Train a child in the way she should go.....

I also believe that these are the best years of my life - right now. We have been blessed so far in that I have been able to stay at home with my lovely girls. A job that I often wished away when sleep deprived or overweight from pregnancy. A job that I treasure more than any other I will have my entire life. Now that my stay at home life is probably drawing to a close, I will look back and think fondly of my lazy days, my play dates with friends for both me and my girls, field trips with preschool, shopping in the middle of the day when stores aren't even crowded, dropping whatever you are doing because it just started to snow, or rain, or someone took a first step, or said a first word. I look forward to the next round of firsts - whatever they may be. And I hope that whatever takes me out of the home as my next job/career will not keep me there when I should be at home with my girls. Priorities change and I can't ever imagine a time when my girls are not the center of my thoughts forever after.

Listen to Taylor Swift's song The Best Days off her Fearless cd. It never fails to make my eyes well up toward the end, even when I think I have made it through the entire song unaffected. I hope and pray that my girls will feel that way about me as they grow up.

change will be good

So I think that I have heard now from all of the other participants in the mother-daughter book club. (And I think we need a cool name for ourselves, instead of forever typing out mother-daughter book club!) I think everyone is in agreement that we should do the book discussion all together and not let the kids separate out for their own discussion. This will keep them on task and give us moms a chance to hear the kids answers and feelings about the book. Every mom is reading the books along with their daughter so it just makes sense that we do this part together. looking back, I would not have given M the option of going off with her friends. But that is how we learn! (and it will be good for M to see that even moms make mistakes sometimes, and how easy it can be to change something to be able to do it better) It will be interesting for the girls as well, I think. They just may learn something about their moms too!

M and I have started Island of the Blue Dolphins. We are up to page 40. The last book selection I read entirely to her at bedtime over the course of 3 weeks. So this book is being read a little differently. I read the first chapter aloud and then M read Chapter 2 out loud, and now we are alternating. I like this way because I get to hear that my 8 year old second grader has no problem reading a fifth grade level book. That makes me proud even though it isn't really necessary that she be that far above her grade level. As a former teacher/reading specialist, I am just glad that she will not have trouble with the actual reading of material so she can learn and focus on the information in the book and not just on the words that make up the book.

Every moment I had to myself today, I picked up a book and read. I hope my kids see that in me and absorb a little of that into their own personalities. I love to read! So far, they love to hear stories. M reads whole chapter books in 2 or 3 days on the bus to school. S is starting to take some books in her backpack too now. I am glad that they see how interesting and fun books can be. I hope I can continue to find books that interest them and keep them loving to read.

If you have any great ideas on how to make summer reading more fun, let me know.